Colonel Robert E. Lee, in command of a small body of marines, to capture Brown and his party and to defeat his diabolical6 scheme. The fanatical wretches7 took refuge in the engine house at Harper’s Ferry. They were then taken to Charlestown and placed in the jail, being turned over to the State authorities by Colonel Lee. Governor Henry A. Wise at that period of time was filling the gubernatorial chair, and he immediately dispatched the military companies of Richmond to the scene of action, in order to protect the citizens in this critical emergency. Indeed it was the real beginning of the great war.
Old John Brown, the leader and arch-conspirator against the peace and dignity of Virginia, was duly tried and summarily executed. Next, one Cook was tried, who was a very young man and nephew of the Governor of Indiana, who employed Senator Daniel Voorhies to defend him. The case was pathetic in the extreme; many persons in court were moved to tears, but the law was inexorable and he was judged guilty and shared the fate of his leader. After the executions the military returned home. The 1st Company of Howitzers had just been formed and organized, and on this occasion acted as infantrymen. The whole country was then in a great state of excitement and unrest. In a short time the nominations8 for the Presidency would be made. James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, was the President then, and the feeling between the North and the South was becoming more and more intense, and what would be the outcome few could predict. A political storm they all feared was to culminate9 in a dreadful, cruel war between the States.
In the year 1860 the Democratic party held its convention in the city of Charleston, S. C. It divided into two section, one wing nominated John C. Breckinridge, of
Kentucky, as their standard bearer, and the other put forward as their nominee10 Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois. The Whig party chose John Bell, of Tennessee, to lead it. The newly formed Republican party had nominated Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois.
The canvass11 was conducted with force and vigor12. The Republicans had grown in numbers and strength and presented a formidable menace to the South. The most strenuous13 efforts were made by each section to elect its candidate; the issue was great and clearly defined. In the South the ablest speakers were brought out to present the danger which threatened the institution of slavery in the success of the Lincoln party; yet it seemed a forlorn hope to expect to elect Southern Democrats14 like Breckinridge and Lane, as there were two other Democratic tickets in the field, which, of course, split the conservative or Southern vote, while the North or Abolition party had only one ticket in the field.
The Whigs of Richmond had built, on Fourteenth and Franklin Streets, a large wooden structure capable of seating a crowd—that party had a large majority in the city—and held frequent meetings therein. It was called the “Wigwam.” I well remember that the night before the election Mr. William L. Yancy spoke15 in advocacy of Breckinridge at the Metropolitan16 Hall, on Franklin Street near the Exchange Hotel. Others spoke at the “Wigwam” for the Douglass ticket. The last speaker there was A. Judson Crane. The evening was advancing and the audience had been listening for hours to burning words from the lips of gifted orators17, and well do I recall his closing remark, to-wit: “It makes no difference for whom you vote, as before the sun of tomorrow goes down Abraham Lincoln will have been elected the President
of these United States.” This prediction proved only too true, since on the following fourth day of March he was inaugurated, and in his address said that he would use all the men at his command to bring back into the union, by force of arms if necessary, the seceding18 Southern States. This was truly cold comfort for the Southern people. John Letcher was the Governor of Virginia, and the General Assembly was in session, which drew up and passed a bill for the calling of a State convention that the people indorsed by a large majority. Then came the most important part, the election of delegates to it. As a matter of fact the State was largely Democratic, and in an ordinary election for State offices a Whig stood no chance of election, but such was not the case in this one, for no party lines were brought into play and therefore the ablest and most intellectual men were selected, irrespective of party affiliations19. This important meeting of Virginians, called the “Secession Convention,” assembled in Richmond—the building used for its sessions was the Mechanic’s Institute, located on Ninth Street between Main and Franklin Streets and then occupied the present site of the building of Ebel and Sons, merchant tailors. It organized, by election, Mr. Janney, of Loudon county, as president, an old line Whig, and was opposed to secession at the very start. Mr. Eubank was made clerk.
I doubt if an abler, more intellectual and patriotic20 set of men were ever before gathered together in this State for the discussion of a subject so delicate and so portentous21. They seemed to fully22 realize the gravity of the situation that confronted the old Commonwealth23. The convention was divided into two parts; the one the original secessionists, who were in favor of going out of the union
at once, as many of the other States had already done, the other was mainly composed of old line Whigs, who were in favor of preserving the union as long as a chance remained. The debates in the convention were of the most absorbing interest to the whole population, and even the heads of the commercial houses would leave them in charge of clerks. The female heads of families, just as soon as their morning duties were arranged, would repair to the Mechanic’s Institute to listen to the speeches, so supreme24 was the general interest taken in the outcome of it. And it was not at all surprising that such was the case, for it was a most momentous25 era in our history. Nobody could foretell26 the future at that early day. The members did all they could to avert27 civil war. Several delegates were sent to the seat of government at Washington to endeavor to secure a peaceable solution of the vexed28 questions. It was a time of suspense29 and almost anguish30; the union hung as by a thread as it were, and then at this critical juncture31 the President, Abraham Lincoln, issued his celebrated32 proclamation, calling upon Virginia, the “Mother of States,” and “of the union,” for seventy-five thousand men as her quota33 with which to assist him in coercing34, by military force of arms, her sister States. The convention did not hesitate an instant, it promptly35 passed the Ordinance36 of Secession almost unanimously, there being but one dissenting37 voice. With the secession of this State the last gleam of hope for peace vanished as the snow flakes38 before the rays of the sun. The Federal government had sent reinforcements and provisions for a siege to Port Sumter, which was then commanded by Major Anderson. The people of South Carolina considered this a declaration of war, and at once, under the direction of General Beauregard, attacked the
fort and caused its surrender. This was the beginning of the great war between the States of the union, which was to call to the front every true Southerner to do or die for the South land; it was the first clash of arms in that bloody39 drama which was to last for four long years of terror to the people of Virginia, and the sacrifice of the life’s blood of thousands of her noblest and most gallant40 sons. Richmond, with her open gates of welcome to the splendid troops from the South and Southwest, was the rendezvous41 of all the soldiers to be organized hurrying to the front. Everything then seemed bright and all believed the war would soon be over.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
presidency
|
|
| n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
abolition
|
|
| n.废除，取消 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
antagonistic
|
|
| adj.敌对的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
conspicuously
|
|
| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
incite
|
|
| v.引起，激动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
diabolical
|
|
| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
wretches
|
|
| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
nominations
|
|
| n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
culminate
|
|
| v.到绝顶，达于极点，达到高潮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
nominee
|
|
| n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
canvass
|
|
| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
vigor
|
|
| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
strenuous
|
|
| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
democrats
|
|
| n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
metropolitan
|
|
| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
orators
|
|
| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
seceding
|
|
| v.脱离，退出( secede的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
19
affiliations
|
|
| n.联系( affiliation的名词复数 )；附属机构；亲和性；接纳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
patriotic
|
|
| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
portentous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
commonwealth
|
|
| n.共和国，联邦，共同体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
momentous
|
|
| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
foretell
|
|
| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
avert
|
|
| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
vexed
|
|
| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
anguish
|
|
| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
juncture
|
|
| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
quota
|
|
| n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
coercing
|
|
| v.迫使做( coerce的现在分词 )；强迫；（以武力、惩罚、威胁等手段）控制；支配 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
ordinance
|
|
| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
dissenting
|
|
| adj.不同意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
flakes
|
|
| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
rendezvous
|
|
| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |