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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Organization of National Government. -Constitutional powers.-Universal equality. Sovereignty of the people.-Elective franchise....

CHAPTER II.

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Colonial condition.-Early settlement. The first Constitution.-Signers of the first Constitution.-Landing of the Pilgrims...

CHAPTER III.

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The Revolutionary War. - Throwing the tea into Boston Harbor.-Battle of Lexington. - Battle of Bunker Hill. Declaration of Independence. Articles of Confederation......

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CHAPTER IV.

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Period immediately preceding the adoption of the Constitution.—Cession of Territory to the United States.-Ordinance of 1784.-Vote on the slave question.-One vote only wanted to prohibit Slavery....

CHAPTER V.

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Convention to amend the Articles of Confederation. They frame a Constitution. - Debates and proceedings of the Convention. The negro in the basis of representation.-Sermon of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards.-Letter of Washington to Lafayette.-Ordinance of 1787.- Harrison advocates Slavery. .48

CHAPTER VI.

Meeting of first Congress under the Constitution.-George Washington elected President.-John Adams, Vice-President.-Vote at the election. - First business of Congress.-Powers of the President to remove from office.Debates upon the powers of the President.—Tenure of civil office.— Amendments to the Constitution..... .64

CHAPTER VII.

Slavery. Its origin.-Laws concerning.-Abolition of.-Slavery amongst the Ancients. -Address of the Anti-Slavery Association.-Divinity of Slav.72

ery.

CHAPTER VIII.

Territory of the United States. - Government of the Territory.- Slavery in the Territory.-Admission of Missouri.-Opposition to her admission.Missouri Compromise.-Position of the friends of Freedom and Slavery.— Speeches upon both sides.. .85

CHAPTER IX.

Admission of Missouri. Annexation of Texas. - War between Mexico and Texas. Santa Anna in the field.-Houston makes him prisoner.-War between the United States and Mexico.-Result of the war..

CHAPTER X.

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Conquest and settlement of California.-Occupation of by Americans.-Rais

ing of the Bear Flag.-Establishment of Government.-Debates in Congress on.-Admission of.-Protest against.-Speeches of Clay, Webster, Jefferson Davis, and others. - Calhoun will make California the "test

question.".

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CHAPTER XI.

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Rights of the people to take Slaves into the Territories.-Interest and compromise. United States and State Court decisions on. - Status of colored persons.-Slaves real estate.-Runaway negroes may be tracked with dogs, if done with circumspection

CHAPTER XII.

...128

Wilmot Proviso.-Slavery in Mexico.-In the Territories.- Laws of Spain and Mexico relating to.-Dred Scott decision.-Fugitive slave laws of California.-State Court decisions in case of Perkins and Archey........

CHAPTER XIII.

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Republican party.-Its first organization.-Democratic party, 1840 to 1861.-Abolitionists. James G. Birney, Abolition candidate. - Success of the party.-Presidential elections of 1840, 1844, 1848, 1852 and 1856.-Nomination of Harrison, Scott and Polk.-Whigs nominate Clay.-Birney renominated.Settlement of the Oregon claims.-Treaty respecting Oregon.-Thomas H. Benton's views on the Oregon boundary.-Gen. Taylor elected President.-"Hunkers" and "Barnburners."-Lewis Cass nominated.-Franklin Pierce nominated.-Election of Pierce.-Nomination of Buchanan and Fremont. - Buchanan's Cabinet. - Floyd moves arms South. His resignation. - Speeches of Southern leaders.-Southern journals.-Slavery is Divine.-Would "extend it even to Yankees."..161 CHAPTER XIV.

Presidential campaign of 1860.-Nomination of Abraham Lincoln.-Stephen A. Douglas.-John C. Breckinridge. - John Bell. - Lincoln elected.Secession of Slave States.-Last days of Buchanan's Administration.The London "Times" on Buchanan's official conduct.-Platforms of the parties.-Officers of the Southern Confederacy. ..199

CHAPTER XV.

Meeting of Thirty-sixth Congress. - Second session, December 3d, 1860.Closing scenes of Buchanan's Administration.-Southern Senators and Representatives.-Organization of the "Southern Confederacy."-Officers of.-Alexander H. Stephens.-His politics.-"Corner-stone and other speeches.-Jefferson Davis.-He desires more arms sent South.......232 CHAPTER XVI.

President Lincoln leaves Springfield for Washington.-James Buchanan leaves the Executive Chair.-Republican party enter upon the administration of affairs.-Attack on Sumter.-War begun.- Democrats join the rebels.Jefferson Davis issues a Proclamation.-War spirit of the Free States.Massachusetts sends the first soldiers.-They are attacked at Baltimore.The President calls for troops. - Terms of compromise. - Horatio Seymour. His complicity with the rebels.-Letter from George N. Sanders.Seeming success of the rebels.-Southern speeches, resolutions and the press against compromise.-Fernando Wood, Mayor of New York City, recommends its secession. He predicts a Pacific Confederacy.-Pol.cy of the Federal Government during the first two years of the war.-Announcement of Emancipation Proclamation.-Effect of.-Extracts from Links message of 1861.-Harmony of the Government.-Democrats plot to fire Northern cities.- Confession of Kennedy. - Contagious disease spread among Union soldiers.... .260

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Grant takes command of the Armies of the Republic. His address to his soldiers. His letter to Hon. E. B. Washburne. - Jefferson Davis still hopeful of success.-A. H. Stephens' views of peace.-Gen. Sherman's

Field Order No. 68. His letter to Gen. Burbridge. - Makes President Lincoln a Christmas gift of Savannah. - His letter to Maj. R. M. Sawyer.-Massacre at Fort Pillow.-Sheridan's victory at Winchester.---Havoc of the war in 1864.-England supplies the rebels with ships.--Effects of the Presidential election of 1864.- Treasonable organizations of the Democrats of the Free States. Knights of the Golden Circle."--Their plans....

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CHAPTER XVIII.

..page 292 Presidential election of 1864.-Platforms of the parties.-Removal of Gen. McClellan. Democratic National Convention. Sheridan appointed a Major-General.-Vote in the Presidential election.-Policy of the Republican party.-Victories of the Union armies.-President Lincoln's annual message of 1864.-Jefferson Davis' message to the rebel Congress....313 CHAPTER XIX.

Perplexities of the President of the "Confederacy."-His message to Congress. He relies upon the "unquenchable" spirit of the people.-He is grieved at the non-recognition of his Government by other nations.-His views upon placing the negro in the Army.-Peace Commissioners from the South. Second inauguration of Abraham Lincoin as President.-His inaugural address.-Hopeful prospects of the Union cause.-Strength of and operations of the Navy.-Attack on and fall of Fort Fisher.-Rebel privateers. Where built.-Capture of.-Sinking of the "Alabama" by the "Kearsarge."— - United States Navy in the war of 1812.- Colored soldiers in the Army..

CHAPTER XX.

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Strength of the Army.-Important battles.-Fall of Richmond.-Disordered flight of the inhabitants.-Surrender of Lee and Johnston.-Number of troops in the field.-Number slain.-Number of colored soldiers.-Population of North and South.-Grant's and Sherman's farewell addresses to their soldiers.-Jefferson Davis issues a Proclamation.-His flight Southward. His capture... .350

CHAPTER XXI.

Enthusiasm at the fall of Richmond.-Assassination of Abraham Lincoln.Attempt to murder W. H. Seward.-Andrew Johnson sworn in President of the United States.-Capture of Booth, the assassin of Lincoln.-Capture of the other conspirators. -Trial and sentence of.-Rewards offered for Jefferson Davis, Jacob Thompson, Clement C. Clay, Beverly Tucker, George N. Sanders and W. C. Cleary.. ...378

CHAPTER XXII.

Reconstruction.-Status of the rebel States.-The President's policy.-Attitude of the Democracy.-Action of Congress.-Amendments to the Constitution.-Civil Rights Bill...... ..390

CHAPTER XXIII.

Federal Union.-Constitutions of the several States. -Elective franchise in the several States.-Who are eligible to office.-Colonial royal charters.Adoption of State Constitutions. Of the Federal Constitution.-Admission of States into the Union....

CHAPTER XXIV.

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Constitution of the United States.-Amendments to.-Powers and duties of officers under.-Citizenship.-Laws of South Carolina.-Attempt to sell British subjects. .440

CHAPTER XXV.

Total area and population of the United States.-Foreigners in America.Their numbers, influence, politics, peculiarities, conditions.--Archbishop Hughes as a citizen.-His letter..

CHAPTER XXVI.

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Naturalization laws of the United States.--Decisions of United States and State Courts upon.-Pre-emption laws of the United States.-Rights of

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