The following pages originally appeared in the New York Herald , of February 2d, 1861. By request, they have been reproduced in their present shape, with the view of preserving, in a form more compact than that of a newspaper, the valuable facts embraced. Without an extensive range of research it is almost impossible to acquire the information which is thus compiled, and, at the present time, especially, it is believed that the publication of these facts will be desirable to the reading communit

The Spirit of the Age—Two Classes of Abolitionists—Their Objects—The Sources of their Inspiration—Influences upon Church and State—Proposed Invasions upon the Constitution—Effect upon the Slave States, &c., &c. One of the commanding characteristics of the present age is the spirit of agitation, collision and discord which has broken forth in every department of social and political life. While it has been an era of magnificent enterprises and unrivalled prosperity, it has likewis

From 1787 to 1820. CHAPTER II. The Ordinance of 1787—The Slave Population of 1790—Abolitionism at that time—The Importation of Slaves the Work of Northerners—Statistics of the Port of Charleston, S. C., from 1804 to 1808—Anecdote of a Rhode Island Senator, &c., &c. The first great epoch in the history of our country at which the spirit of abolitionism displayed itself was immediately preceding the formation of the present government. From the close of the Revolutionary War, in 17

CHAPTER III. History of the Missouri Compromise, 1820—Benjamin Lundy and the “ Genius of Universal Emancipation ”—Insurrection at Charleston, S. C.—The result of agitation in Congress—British Influence and Interference—Abolition in the East and West Indies—Remarkable opinion of Sir Robert Peel—Letter from Lord Brougham on the Harper’s Ferry Insurrection. Probably there has never been in the history of the United States, except at the present time, a more critical moment, arising from the violenc

Progress of Abolition in America—An Era of Reforms—Southern Efforts for Manumission—Various Plans of Emancipation that have been suggested—The first Abolition journal—New York “Journal of Commerce”—William Lloyd Garrison, his Early Life and Associations—The Nat. Turner Insurrection in 1832, &c., &c. Probably no period in the history of the country has been more characterized by the spirit of reform and innovation than that embraced between the years 1825 and 1830. It then seemed

The New England Anti-Slavery Society, 1832—More Newspapers and Tracts—New York City Anti-Slavery Society and the Incidents of Its Organization—The American Anti-Slavery Society and its Creed—The Extent and System of their operations—Abolition Riots in New York—An Era of Excitement—Negro Conspiracy in Mississippi—George Thompson, the English Abolitionist—Riot at Alton, Ill., and Death of the Rev. E. P. Lovejoy. In the year 1832, January 30, the New England or Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society we

CHAPTER VI. The Era of “Gags” and Congressional Petitions—John Quincy Adams; his Petition for Disunion—Legislation from 1835 to 1845—Annexation of Texas—The Liberty Party of 1840, Free Soil Party of 1848, and Republican Party of 1856—Mexican War and Wilmot Proviso. The decade embraced between the years 1835 and 1845 may be termed the third epoch in the history of this movement. In that period, the grand experiment of the abolitionists was most effectually tried. They had felt the public pulse, d

CHAPTER VII. History of the Compromise Measures of 1850—Cessation of the Agitation in Congress—The Fugitive Slave Law in the North—Repeal of the Missouri Compromise—Narrative of the Difficulties in Kansas—Disunion Convention in Massachusetts. The next important move upon the political chessboard with reference to slavery preceded the adoption of the celebrated measures familiarly known by the above title, or as the “Omnibus Bill of 1850.” The events which led to this measure may be briefly state

The Influence of Religion and Women—Ruptures in Churches and Church Organizations—Sentiments of Clergymen—“Uncle Tom’s Cabin”—The “Impending Crisis”—The Harper’s Ferry Insurrection. One of the principal agencies by which this extraordinary revolution in the public sentiment of the North has been brought about is the Church. The history of anti-slavery in this connection, however, is too extended to admit of anything more than a narration of general facts. It is sufficient to say that the aboliti

CHAPTER IX. The Six Seceding States and date of their Separation—Organization of the Southern Congress—Names of Members—Election of President and Vice President, and Sketch of their Lives—The New Constitution—The City of Montgomery, &c., &c. On Saturday, February 9, 1861, six seceding States of the old Union organized an independent government, adopted a constitution, and elected a President and Vice President. These States passed their respective ordinances of dissolution as fol