bill calling for a convention of the people of the State, provided that any ordinance or resolution which might be adopted by said Convention having for its object a change of the position or relation of the State to the National Union, or her sister Southern States, should be of no binding force or effect until it was submitted to or ratified by the people, and required a vote equal to a majority of the votes cast in the last election for Governor to ratify it. Thus the people had an opportunity, in voting for delegates, to declare for or against secession; and should the action of the Convention contemplate any change in the Federal relations of the State, they had still the opportunity of endorsing or overruling alike their former decision and the action of the Convention. The election for

members of the Convention was to be held on the 9th of February, the Convention to assemble on the 25th.

The result of the election was highly successful to the friends of the Union. Even West Tennessee gave a Union majority. The following returns, except a few counties, show the relative strength of union and disunion in the State:

The returns from all the counties made the actual majority 64,114. The question of holding a convention was determined in the negative by a large majority, thus declaring that there was no need for a convention at all to determine where Tennessee should stand. The Union delegates at Memphis were elected by a majority of 400. The vote of the State on the Convention question was as follows:

East Tennessee voted no convention by 25,611 majority, or four and a quarter to one. Middle Tennessee 1,382 majority; but West Tennessee gave for a Convention 15,118 majority. The vote for no Convention was 69,673. The total vote for and against Convention was 127,471, with a majority against the meeting of a Convention of 11,875.

The people decided that no Convention should be held, chiefly because they had seen that all the conventions which had been held in the Southern States had withdrawn their States from the Union, and then had proceeded to sit on their own adjournments, as if they conceived they possessed the right to continue their own existence indefinitely. The loyal people of Tennessee now flattered themselves that they had thus put an effectual stop to the secession movement in the State, and so the secessionists thought as well; and even the Governor seemed, for a time, to have abandoned the scheme.

The proclamation of the President on the 15th of April, however, produced an intense feeling throughout the State. The Governor imme

diately called an extra session of the Legislature, to be convened on the 25th of April. He refused the requisition of the President for troops, saying:

Hon. Simon Cameron:

SIR: Your despatch of the 15th inst., informing me that Tennessee is called upon for two regiments of militia for immediate service, is received. Tennessee will not furnish a man for purposes of coercion, but 50,000, if necessary, for the defence of our rights, and those of our Southern brothers.

ISHAM G. HARRIS, Governor of Tennessee. On the 25th of April the Legislature assembled for the third time, although the members had been elected without any reference to the ered. In the Assembly, on the same day, the momentous questions now about to be considfollowing resolution was offered.

Resolved, That upon the grave and solemn matters for our consideration, submitted by the Governor's Message, with a view to the public safety, the two Houses of this Legislature hold their sessions with closed doors whenever a secret session in either House may be called for by five members of said House, and that the oath of secrecy be administered to the officers and members of said House.

The resolution was adopted-ayes 42; noes 8. The Message of the Governor was very strong and decided in urging immediate secession.

On the 30th of April, Henry W. Hilliard, commissioner from the Confederate States, appeared before the Legislature and made an address. He said his object was to establish a temporary alliance between Tennessee and the Confederate States, to continue until Tennessee should decide for or against adopting the Constitution of that Government, and becoming one of the Confederate States. He regarded the issue now pending between the North and the South something more than a mere right to hold slaves. It was a question of constitutional liberty, involving the right of the people of the South to govern themselves. "We have said that we will not be governed by the abolition North, the abolition North says we shall," and he would not hesitate to say there was not a true-hearted man in the South but would rather die than submit. He repudiated the idea of settling the pending questions between the North and South by reconstruction "by going back to our enemies." He regarded the Southern system of government established at Montgomery, and based upon slavery, as the only permanent form which could be established in this country.

On the 29th of April Governor Harris had ordered to be seized sixty-six thousand dollars' worth of Tennessee bonds and five thousand dollars in cash, belonging to the United States, which were in possession of the collector at Nashville. He said:

"This seizure was conditional; the property was to be held in trust until the Government restored the property of the State and its citizens involved in the seizure of the steamer Hillman by troops of the Federal Government."

The steamer Hillman was seized at Cairo by the Illinois troops, because she was laden with munitions and other articles contraband of war. The boat, and property not contraband, was subsequently surrendered to the owners. The Legislature in secret session, immediately, on the 1st of May, passed a joint resolution directing the Governor to enter into a military league with the Confederate States, subjecting "the whole military force of the State" to the control of the Confederate States. Acting upon this authority, the Governor immediately appointed Gustavus A. Henry, Archibald O. W. Totten, and Washington Barrow, as commissioners for that purpose. On the 7th of May he sent a Message to the Legislature, stating that he had appointed the said commissioners on the part of Tennessee, etc., as follows:

To enter into a military league with the authorities of the Confederate States, and with the authorities of such other slaveholding States as may wish to enter into it; having in view the protection and defence of the entire South against the war that is now being carried on against it.

The said commissioners met the Hon. Henry W. Hilliard, the accredited representative of the Confederate States, at Nashville on this day, and have agreed upon and executed a military league between the State of Tennessee and the Confederate States of America, subject, however, to the ratification of the two Governments, one of the duplicate originals of which I herewith transmit for your ratification or rejection. For many cogent and obvious reasons, unnecessary to be rehearsed to you, I respectfully recommend the ratification of this league at the earli

est practical moment.

The Convention was as follows: Convention between the State of Tennessee and the Confederate States of America.

The State of Tennessee, looking to a speedy admission into the Confederacy established by the Confederate States of America, in accordance with the constitution for the provisional government of said States, enters into the following temporary convention, agreement, and military league with the Confederate States, for the purpose of meeting pressing exigencies affecting the common rights, interests, and safety of said States, and said Confederacy:

1st. Until the said State shall become a member of said Confederacy, according to the constitutions of both powers, the whole military force and military operations, offensive and defensive, of said State, in the impending conflict with the United States, shall be under the chief control and direction of the President of the Confederate States, upon the same basis, principles, and footing, as if said State were now and during the interval a member of the said Confederacy-said forces, together with those of the Confederate States, to be employed for the common de

fence.

2d. The State of Tennessee will, upon becoming a member of said Confederacy, under the permanent Constitution of said Confederate States, if the same shall occur, turn over to said Confederate States all the public property, naval stores, and munitions of war, of which she may then be in possession, acquired from the United States, on the same terms and in the same manner as the other States of said Confederacy have done in like cases.

3d. Whatever expenditures of money, if any, the said State of Tennessee shall make before she becomes a member of said Confederacy, shall be met and provided for by the Confederate States.

The vote in the Senate, on the adoption of this treaty, was 14 to 6-absent or not voting,

4; in the House, 42 to 15-absent or not voting, 18.

Meanwhile, the Legislature had not been idle. On the 6th of May it passed an ordinance entitled, "An Act to submit to a vote of the people a Declaration of Independence, and for other purposes." The first section provided that the Governor should, by proclamation, require the respective officers in each county to hold the polls open in their several precincts on the 8th day of June ensuing. The second section provided that the following declaration should be submitted to a vote of the qualified voters for their ratification or rejection: Declaration of Independence and Ordinance dissolving

the Federal relations between the State of Tennesses and the United States of America.

1st. We, the people of the State of Tennessee, doctrine of secession, but asserting the right as a waiving an expression of opinion as to the abstract free and independent people to alter, reform, or abolish our form of Government in such manner as laws and ordinances by which the State of Tenneswe think proper, do ordain and declare that all the see became a member of the Federal Union of the United States of America, are hereby abrogated and annulled, and that all obligations on our part be withdrawn therefrom; and we do hereby resume all the rights, functions, and powers which by any of said laws and ordinances were conveyed to the Government of the United States, and absolve ourselves from all the obligations, restraints, and duties incurred thereto; and do hereby henceforth become a free, sovereign, and independent State. 10, Sections 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, which requires members of the General Assembly, and all officers, civil and military, to take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, be and the same are hereby abrogated and annulled, and all parts of the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, making citizenship of the United States a qualification for office, and recognizing the Constitution of the United States as the supreme law of this State, are in like manner abrogated and annulled.

2d. We furthermore declare and ordain, that Article

3d. We furthermore ordain and declare that all rights acquired and vested under the Constitution of the United States, or under any act of Congress passed in pursuance thereof, or under any laws of this State, and not incompatible with this ordinance, shall remain in force and have the same effect as if this ordinance had not been passed.

The third section provided that the election should be by ballot, and that those voting for the declaration and ordinance should have on their ballots the word "Separation," and those Voting against it should have on their ballots the words "No separation;" the returns should be made to the Secretary of State by the 24th of June, and if a majority of votes were given for separation, the Governor was required immediately to issue his proclamation declaring "all connection by the State of Tennessee with the Federal Union dissolved, and that Tennessee is a free, independent Government, free from all obligations to, or connection with the Federal Government."

The fourth section authorized all volunteers to vote, wherever they may be in active service. By the fifth section it was provided that, under the rules and regulations prescribed

We, the people of Tennessee, solemnly impressed by the perils which surround us, do hereby adopt and ratify the Constitution of the Provisional Govern

ment of the Confederate States of America, ordained and established at Montgomery, Alabama, on the 8th of February, 1861, to be in force during the existence thereof, or until such time as we may supersede it by the adoption of a permanent Constitution.

The sixth section provided that all voters in favor of adopting the Provisional Constitution, and thereby securing to Tennessee equal representation in the deliberations and councils of the Confederate States, should have written or printed on their ballots the word "Representation;" opposed, the words "No Representation."

The seventh section provides for an election of delegates to the Confederate Congress in case the Provisional Constitution was adopted. The vote on the Declaration of Independence in the Senate was-yeas 20, nays 4; in the House, yeas 46, nays 21.

By this act, provision was made to submit to the vote of the people of the State, the adoption or rejection of a “Declaration of Independence," whereby they were to separate themselves from the Union, and adopt the insurrectionary States' Constitution, and abrogate that part of their own Constitution which required every person chosen or appointed to any office of trust or profit under it, or any law made in pursuance of it, before entering on the duties thereof, to take an oath to support the Constitution of the State and of the United States; and requiring each member of the Senate and House of Representatives, before proceeding to business, to take an oath to support the Constitution of the State and of the United States. (Constitution of Tennessee, art. x., sections 1, 2.) By another act the Governor was required to raise, organize, and equip, a provisional force of volunteers for the defence of the State, to consist of 55,000 men; 25,000 of whom, or any less number demanded by the wants of the service, were to be fitted for the field, at the earliest practicable moment, and the remainder to be held in reserve, ready to march at short notice. It authorized the Governor, should it become necessary for the safety of the State, to "call out the whole available military strength of the State," and to determine when this force should serve, and direct it accordingly. To defray the expenses of this military organization, the Governor was authorized "to issue and dispose of $5,000,000 of the bonds of the State," in denominations of not less than $100, or greater than $1,000, to run ten years, and bear interest at the rate of 8 per cent.

Thus provided with a semblance of authority, the Governor hastened the organization of the provisional force of 25,000 men, and before

the day of the election, June 8, 1861, he had most of it on foot, and distributed in camps around Nashville and elsewhere, armed and equipped, so far as it could be, with the munitions of the United States in possession of the State, and with such as could be obtained from the arsenal at Augusta, Georgia, from which they were brought by Gen. Zollicoffer. Thus, on the morning of the election, the people of Tennessee, for the first time in their lives, went to the polls conscious that they were no longer a free people; knowing that the Executive and Legislative Departments of the State, with its Treasury in their hands, and with all the arms of the State in their possession, and with a formidable army in their pay, had joined a conspiracy to overthrow their Government, and that nothing remained for them but to reverse their vote of the 9th of February, and to ratify what their self-constituted masters had already accomplished. Even by voting against the Declaration of Independence, and by refusing to absolve their officers from the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and declining to accept the Constitution of the insurrectionary States, they could not free themselves from the military incubus which had been imposed upon them. In these circumstances it is not to be wondered at that the election showed an apparent majority of 57,667 for secession. It must not be concluded, however, that this majority was real; for the men who could so wantonly contemn the obligations of the law as to resort to the measures above detailed, could not escape from the suspicion of having filled the ballot-box with spurious votes.

By such means was Tennessee carried over to the insurrectionary States, and in the employment of these means there does not appear to have been any semblance of regard, among the actors, for oaths or for the observance of the most solemn obligations of legal and constitutional duty.

The aggregate votes in the several divisions of the State were announced to be as follows on the ordinance of separation:

Fentress, Wheeler, and Cumberland. Cleveland was also declared a military station. The mails of the United States were, by order of the proper department, continued in twenty-six of the counties of East Tennessee at this time, in consequence of the Union feeling which was manifested. They were as follows: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Green, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Knox, Marion, McMuir, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Sevier, Sullivan, and Washington.

On the other side every effort was made to procure arms. The Governor sent instructions to the clerks of all the county courts, requesting them to issue to each constable in their respective counties an order requiring him to make diligent inquiry at each house in his civil district for all muskets, bayonets, rifles, swords, and pistols belonging to the State of Tennessee, to take them into possession, and deliver them to the clerks. A reward of one dollar was to be paid to the constable for each musket and bayonet or rifle, and of fifty cents for each

sword or pistol thus reclaimed. The arms thus obtained were to be forwarded, at public expense, to the military authorities at Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis, as might be most convenient, and information sent to the military and financial board at Nashville, of the result. Stringent measures were adopted with the Union people of East Tennessee. Many, upon bare suspicion, were arrested and taken prisoners, insulted, abused, and carried into camps, there to be disposed of as the insurrectionary mob thought proper. Squads of cavalry and infantry were scouring over the country, offering the people, male and female, every indignity that ruffian bands are capable of; destroying crops and substance without regard to the condition or circumstances of the persons; pasturing their horses in corn-fields; wasting hay-stacks, taking provisions of every description without regard to quantity, not even asking the price or tendering an equivalent therefor in any shape whatever. Nashville was put under martial law, passports were required, and all baggage was examined under directions of the Committee of Safety.

THE appearance of the proclamation of the President, calling for seventy-five thousand men, caused the most active efforts both at the North and South to raise and equip troops. This was immediately followed by hostile movements of Southern forces upon the most important positions. At the North it was feared that Washington would be captured at once, unless it was quickly garrisoned. Thither, therefore, the troops from Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts immediately moved. The advance of the 6th Massachusetts regiment through Baltimore on April 19th, has already been described. At Washington, in the meanwhile, preparation for defence was commenced with the small military and naval force on hand. But on the 18th, three days after the appearance of the proclamation, several car loads of troops, numbering about 600 men, arrived from Harrisburg via Baltimore, and were quartered in rooms in the Capitol. Other troops were also expected soon to arrive, and the Massachusetts regiment was the next which reached there.

During the whole day and night of the 18th, the avenues of the city were guarded and closely watched. Cannon were planted in commanding positions so as to sweep the river along that front, and these were supported by

infantry. A proclamation was also issued by Mayor Berret, exhorting "all good citizens and sojourners to be careful so to conduct themselves as neither by word or deed to give occasion for any breach of the peace." After the outbreak at Baltimore on the 19th, no mail was received at Washington, either from the North or South, except from Alexandria on the one side and Baltimore on the other, until the 25th. On the 27th the New York 7th regiment arrived, having left New York on the 18th. A delay took place between Annapolis and Washington, in consequence of the damage done to the railroad track. The news brought to Washington by the 7th was that four New York regiments were at Annapolis, with a part of a Massachusetts regiment, the remainder of which was at the Junction. The 7th, therefore, as they marched up Pennsylvania Avenue, preceded by their band, and making a fine appearance, were received with the wildest demonstrations of pleasure on the part of the citizens. On the next day another body of troops arrived. They consisted of one-half of the Rhode Island regiment, 1,200 strong, commanded and headed by Gov. Sprague; and the Butler brigade, under Brig.-Gen. Butler, of Massachusetts, numbering nearly 1,400 men. They

were met at the depot by the 6th Massachusetts regiment, stationed in the Capitol, who greeted their friends with the heartiest cheers. These men, though severely worked by the toilsome labor requisite to repair the bridges and road track from Annapolis to the Junction, presented a fine appearance as their long and serpent-like lines wound through the streets. Troops now began to arrive daily, and Washington soon became the most military city on the continent. Meantime hostile movements were commenced at Harper's Ferry, where a United States Armory and a National Arsenal were located. The situation of this town is at the confluence of the Shenandoah River with the Potomac, in Jefferson County, Virginia, on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. At the armory 10,000 muskets were made annually, and the arsenal often contained 80,000 to 90,000 stand of arms. On the 2d of January, orders were received from Washington for the Armory Guard, Flag Guard, and Rifles to go on duty, as a precautionary measure. A few days afterwards a detachment of unmounted United States Dragoons, numbering sixty-four, under command of Lieut. Jones, arrived there. Affairs remained in a quiet condition until the excitement created through the country by the capture of Fort Sumter, and the issue of the first proclamation by the President calling out troops. A movement was immediately made by friends of the rebellion in Northern Virginia, to take possession of Harper's Ferry Arsenal. As early as the 18th of April, Lieut. Jones was informed that between 2,500 and 3,000 State troops would reach the ferry in two hours. Deeming the information positive and reliable, he gave orders to apply the torch to the buildings. In ten minutes or less both the arsenal buildings, containing nearly 15,000 stand of arms, together with the carpenter's shop, which was at the upper end of a long and connected series of workshops of the armory proper, were in a complete blaze. Lieut. Jones then withdrew his small force, and marching all night, arrived at Carlisle barracks at half-past 2 o'clock the next afternoon. This was done by orders of the Government. The place was then taken possession of by the Virginian troops. Most of the machinery which was not destroyed was removed to Richmond.. About six hundred arms were recovered.

But the severest blow at this time was given near Norfolk, a city in Norfolk County, Va., situated on the right or north bank of Elizabeth River, eight miles from Hampton Roads. A navy-yard was located at Gosport, a suburb of Portsmouth, on the side of the river opposite, accessible to the largest ships. A naval hospital and a large dry-dock were also prepared there.

At the time of the secession of Virginia, April 18th, the marines and Government forces at the yard numbered nearly eight hundred men. The vessels of war there at that time were as follows;

Ships of the Line.-Pennsylvania, 120 guns; Columbus, 80; Delaware, 84; New York (on stocks), 84. Frigates.-United States, 50 guns; Columbus, 50; Raritan, 50. Sloops-of- War.Plymouth, 22 guns; Germantown, 22. Brig.Dolphin, 4 guns. Steam frigate-Merrimac, 40 guns.

As to their condition, there was the liner Columbus, useless; liner Delaware, useless; liner New York, never launched; frigate Columbus, out of order; frigate Raritan, out of order; steam-frigate Merrimac, needing full repairs; corvette Germantown, almost ready for sea. The force of the Government was distributed as follows: The flag-ship Cumberland, 300 men; receiving-ship Pennsylvania, 350; marines at the barracks, 70; steamer Pocahontas, 60; total, 780,

Upon the first excitement, a party of men, without any authority, had seized the lightboats, and floating them to the shallowest point at the mouth of the harbor, had sunk them, to prevent the removal of the vessels of war from the navy-yard.

On the 19th Gen. Taliaferro and staff arrived at Norfolk. He had command of all the Virginia troops in that section, and was waited on shortly after his arrival by the captains of the several military companies of the city and vicinity for the purpose of reporting their strength, condition, &c., and receiving orders.

On Saturday, the 20th, the greatest excitement prevailed in the city. It was reported that the Cumberland was about to sail from the navy-yard, and preparations were made to prevent her. At twelve o'clock an officer came from the yard bearing a flag of truce, and was conducted to Gen. Taliaferro's headquarters, where a consultation was held, which resulted in a promise from Com. Macauley, the commandant of the yard, that none of the vessels should be removed, nor a shot fired except in self-defence.

This quieted the excitement; but it was renewed at a later hour, when it was ascertained that the Germantown and Merrimac had been scuttled, and that the heavy shears on the wharf at which the Germantown was lying had been cut away and allowed to fall midships across her decks, carrying away the main topmast and yards. It was also perceived that the men were busily engaged in destroying and throwing overboard side and small arms, and other property, and boats were constantly passing between the Pennsylvania, Cumberland, and other vessels.

About midnight a fire was started in the yard. This continued to increase, and before daylight the work of destruction extended to the immense ship-houses known as A and B (the former containing the entire frame of the New York, 74, which had been on the stocks, unfinished, for some thirty-eight years), and also to the long ranges of two-story offices and stores on each side of the main gate of the yard. The flames and heat from this tremendous mass