PREFACE. THE undersigned proposes to present to the public a history, to be entitled "A KEVIEW OF THE POLITICAL CONFLICT IN AMERICA." He does so, in obedience to monitions that were ever reminding him, since the close of our civil war, that duty demanded of this generation, that it writ › the truth concerning the origin and progress of the conflict, through which the nation has passed. The work will also comprise a "Resume of the Career of Thaddeus Stevens,"[who conspicuously figured, as the leading revolutionist of the American Congress; and who towered as the unconcealed contemner of law and the Federal Constitution. Until the work was completed, it had been the design of the undersigned, to entitle it "The Life and Times of Thaddeus Stevens;" because it was believed, that the prominence and admitted intellectual capacity of the man being treated, would secure attention from all classes of readers. But his career had been mainly selected, in order to embody therewith, the history of the times in which he lived; and because also he of all American Statesmen, appeared as the typical representative of the destructive revolutionary movement, which the work is designed to illustrate and unfold. Upon its completion, however, the originally conceived title, appeared not to harmonize with what, it might have seemed to have imported; and therefore, after some reflection, it was changed to what has been adopted. The plan thus followed, in the treatment of the work, notwithstanding the change of title, will allow of a clearer light being reflected (as is believed) upon the development and progress of the revolution, as it passes scenically before the vision. The work will trace the conflict to its inception, deducing it from inherent principles. It will thence follow the progress of the anti-slavery agitation, from its commencement to its full development in one of the political parties of the country, and its complete seizure of power, in the election of Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. The movement intended to check the progress of sectionalism will also be sketched, until the final effort to do so, resulted in the secession of the Southern States; and the bloody collision of arms followed. During the progress of the civil war, the ideal conflict in Congress and throughout the nation, which animated and sustained the armed combatants upon the fields of battle, is alone viewed and depicted. The Presidential and Congressional acts which had reference to the prosecution of the war, and the motives influencing these, are presented in historical delineation of the political struggle, as it progressed. The breach of President Johnson with his party, is detailed in appropriate compass, and the conflict of parties which followed, until the reconstrucțion legislation of Congress, insured the Africanization of the South. No asperity or bitterness, should be aroused in the breasts of those, who may honestly differ with the author, as to the causes which led to our late conflict. He claims, as a free citizen, the right to present the reasons, which ever induced him to condemn the war against the South and its prosecution. He has presented these openly and fearlessly; records for all time his conviction, that the war was wholly unwarranted by the Federal Constitution; and he believes the time will come, when the majority of the American people, will be fully convinced that coercion was an unwise policy, adopted to preserve republican government. Not only unwise, will they come to see it to have been, but wholly suicidal to the institutions, it was meant to preserve. The ship of state, which, under republican steersmen, had sailed on a calm ocean, no sooner came under the management of those of contrary principles, than it was driven upon the shoals and quicksands of political disorder, from which it is even problematical if it can ever be rescued. Though the work, to the unreflecting, may appear as if written to subserve partisan politics, the author disclaims all such motives, as in anywise, having influenced his undertaking. And, before being so accused, those thus charging him, should inquire, what selfish interest he could promote, by advocating views unpopular in both parties, in his state and section. Nay, the truth is the pole star by which he is guided, and, albeit he may be (as he has been heretofore) subjected to reproach and bitter vilification, for the maintenance of his opinions, he hesitates not to defend them, believing, that though covered with the darkness of midnight, the dawn of morning is approaching. Our Union has sustained a long and arduous struggle, with the foes of her own household, but patriotism, like a deity seated upon some Olympian summit, has been from the first viewing the combat, and expecting every true Amer can to do his duty. Should none have the boldness to break the silence, the slumber of truth, might at times, be the sleep of death; but she has ever by her couch, her faithful sentinels to arouse her, and messengers to go forth amidst terror and gloom, to proclaim her immutable laws, to sound her clarion and arouse her hosts to victory. Fully trusting, that the deductions of the work now to be submitted to the public, are the inspiration of truth, the author invokes for them no leniency of criticism; and, if able to be controverted by truth, logic and sound ratiocination, let them fall and forever perish! For the author only desires to know the truth, and, if fully convinced that the opinions which he has steadily defended, since the commencement of the civil war, were erroneous, he should himself be one of the first to disavow them. But until proven false, in the forum of reason, he claims the right to defend and publish them to the reflective world. Careful, however, as the author has endeavored to be, historical inaccuracies, no doubt, will have eluded his scrutiny, and he is not so presumptuous as to conceive, but that his work, will disclose many literary errors to the critical eye. He entertains, nevertheless the hope, that it may in a slight degree help to pacify turbulent passion, and correct mistaken views; and, so believing, he commits it to the judgment and criticism of ages. ALEXANDER HARRIS. CONTENTS. THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA BILL, WITH THE REPEAL OF THE MISSOURI COM- |
