TheCivilWarintheUnitedStatesKarlMarxTheCivilWarintheUnitedStates"Lethimgo，heisnotworththineire！"AgainandagainEnglishstatesmanshipcries—recentlythroughthemouthofLordJohnRussell—totheNorthoftheUnitedStatesthisadviceofLeporellotoDonJuan’sdesertedlove。IftheNorthletstheSouthgo，itthenfreesitselffromanyadmixtureofslavery，fromitshistoricaloriginalsin，andcreatesthebasisofanewandhigherdevelopment。
Inreality，ifNorthandSouthformedtwoautonomouscountries，like，forexample，EnglandandHanover，theirseparationwouldbenomoredifficultthanwastheseparationofEnglandandHanover。"TheSouth，"however，isneitheraterritorycloselysealedofffromtheNorthgeographically，noramoralunity。Itisnotacountryatall，butabattleslogan。
TheadviceofanamicableseparationpresupposesthattheSouthernConfederacy，althoughitassumedtheoffensiveintheCivilWar，atleastwagesitfordefensivepurposes。Itisbelievedthattheissuefortheslaveholders’
partyismerelyoneofunitingtheterritoriesithashithertodominatedintoanautonomousgroupofstatesandwithdrawingthemfromthesupremeauthorityoftheUnion。Nothingcouldbemorefalse:"TheSouthneedsitsentireterritory。Itwillandmusthaveit。"Withthisbattle—crythesecessionistsfelluponKentucky。Bytheir"entireterritory"theyunderstandinthefirstplacealltheso—calledborderstates—Delaware，Maryland，Virginia，NorthCarolina，Kentucky，Tennessee，MissouriandArkansas。
Besides，theylayclaimtotheentireterritorysouthofthelinethatrunsfromthenorth—westcornerofMissouritothePacificOcean。Whattheslaveholders，therefore，calltheSouth，embracesmorethanthree—quartersoftheterritoryhithertocomprisedbytheUnion。AlargepartoftheterritorythusclaimedisstillinthepossessionoftheUnionandwouldfirsthavetobeconqueredfromit。Noneoftheso—calledborderstates，however，noteventhoseinthepossessionoftheConfederacy，wereeveractualslavestates。Rather，theyconstitutetheareaoftheUnitedStatesinwhichthesystemofslaveryandthesystemoffreelabourexistsidebysideandcontendformastery，theactualfieldofbattlebetweenSouthandNorth，betweenslaveryandfreedom。ThewaroftheSouthernConfederacyis，therefore，notawarofdefence，butawarofconquest，awarofconquestforthespreadandperpetuationofslavery。
ThechainofmountainsthatbeginsinAlabamaandstretchesnorthwardstotheHudsonRiver—thespinalcolumn，asitwere，oftheUnitedStates—cutstheso—calledSouthintothreeparts。ThemountainouscountryformedbytheAlleghenyMountainswiththeirtwoparallelranges，theCumberlandRangetothewestandtheBlueMountainstotheeast，divideswedge—likethelowlandsalongthewesterncoastoftheAtlanticOceanfromthelowlandsinthesouthernvalleysoftheMississippi。Thetwolowlandsseparatedbythemountainouscountry，withtheirvastriceswampsandfar—flungcottonplantations，aretheactualareaofslavery。Thelongwedgeofmountainouscountrydrivenintotheheartofslavery，withitscorrespondinglyclearatmosphere，aninvigoratingclimateandasoilrichincoal，salt，limestone，ironore，gold，inshort，everyrawmaterialnecessaryforamany—sidedindustrialdevelopment，isalreadyforthemostpartfreecountry。Inaccordancewithitsphysicalconstitution，thesoilherecanonlybecultivatedwithsuccessbyfreesmallfarmers。Heretheslavesystemvegetatesonlysporadicallyandhasneverstruckroot。Inthelargestpartoftheso—calledborderstates，thedwellersofthesehighlandscomprisethecoreofthefreepopulation，whichsideswiththeNorthernpartyifonlyforthesakeofself—preservation。
Letusconsiderthecontestedterritoryindetail。
Delaware，themostnorth—easternoftheborderstates，isfactuallyandmorallyinthepossessionoftheUnion。Alltheattemptsofthesecessionistsatformingevenonefactionfavourabletothemhavesincethebeginningofthewarsufferedshipwreckontheunanimityofthepopulation。Theslaveelementofthisstatehaslongbeeninprocessofdyingout。From1850to1860alonethenumberofslavesdiminishedbyhalf，sothatwithatotalpopulationof112，218Delawarenownumbersonly1，798
slaves。Nevertheless，DelawareisdemandedbytheSouthernConfederacyandwouldinfactbemilitarilyuntenablefortheNorthassoonastheSouthpossesseditselfofMaryland。
InMarylanditselftheabove—mentionedconflictbetweenhighlandsandlowlandstakesplace。Outofatotalpopulationof687，034therearehere87，188slaves。ThattheoverwhelmingmajorityofthepopulationisonthesideoftheUnionhasagainbeenstrikinglyprovedbytherecentgeneralelectionstotheCongressinWashington。Thearmyof30，000Uniontroops，whichholdsMarylandatthemoment，isintendednotonlytoservethearmyonthePotomacasareserve，but，inparticular，alsotoholdinchecktherebelliousslaveownersintheinteriorofthecountry。ForhereweobserveaphenomenonsimilartowhatweseeinotherborderstateswherethegreatmassofthepeoplestandsfortheNorthandanumericallyinsignificantslaveholders’partyfortheSouth。Whatitlacksinnumbers，theslaveholders’partymakesupinthemeansofpowerthatmanyyears’
possessionofallstateoffices，hereditaryengagementinpoliticalintrigueandconcentrationofgreatwealthinfewhandshavesecuredforit。
VirginianowformsthegreatcantonmentwherethemainarmyofsecessionandthemainarmyoftheUnionconfronteachother。Inthenorth—westhighlandsofVirginiathenumberofslavesis15，000，whilstthetwentytimesaslargefreepopulationconsistsmostlyoffreefarmers。
TheeasternlowlandsofVirginia，ontheotherhand，countwell—nighhalfamillionslaves。RaisingNegroesandthesaleoftheNegroestotheSouthernstatesformtheprincipalsourceofincomeoftheselowlands。AssoonastheringleadersofthelowlandshadcarriedthroughthesecessionordinancebyintriguesinthestatelegislatureatRichmondandhadinallhasteopenedthegatesofVirginiatotheSouthernarmy，north—westVirginiasecededfromthesecession，formedanewstate，andunderthebanneroftheUnionnowdefendsitsterritoryarmsinhandagainsttheSoutherninvaders。
Tennessee，with1，109，847inhabitants，275，784ofwhomareslaves，findsitselfinthehandsoftheSouthernConfederacy，whichhasplacedthewholestateundermartiallawandunderasystemofproscriptionwhichrecallsthedaysoftheRomanTriumvirates。Wheninthewinterof1861theslaveholdersproposedageneralconventionofthepeoplewhichwastovoteforsecessionornon—secession，themajorityofthepeoplerejectedanyconvention，inordertoremoveanypretextforthesecessionmovement。Later，whenTennesseewasalreadymilitarilyover—runandsubjectedtoasystemofterrorbytheSouthernConfederacy，morethanathirdofthevotersattheelectionsstilldeclaredthemselvesfortheUnion。Here，asinmostoftheborderstates，themountainouscountry，eastTennessee，formstherealcentreofresistancetotheslaveholders’party。OnJune17，1861，aGeneralConventionofthepeopleofeastTennesseeassembledinGreenville，declareditselffortheUnion，deputedtheformergovernorofthestate，AndrewJohnson，oneofthemostardentUnionists，totheSenateinWashingtonandpublisheda"declarationofgrievances，"whichlaysbareallthemeansofdeception，intrigueandterrorbywhichTennesseewas"votedout"oftheUnion。SincethenthesecessionistshaveheldeastTennesseeincheckbyforceofarms。
SimilarrelationshipstothoseinWestVirginiaandeastTennesseearefoundinthenorthofAlabama，innorth—westGeorgiaandinthenorthofNorthCarolina。
Furtherwest，intheborderstateofMissouri，with1，173，317
inhabitantsand114，965slaves—thelattermostlyconcentratedinthenorth—westofthestate—thepeople’sconventionofAugust1861decidedfortheUnion。
Jackson，thegovernorofthestateandthetooloftheslaveholders’party，rebelledagainstthelegislatureofMissouri，wasoutlawedandtooktheleadofthearmedhordesthatfelluponMissourifromTexas，ArkansasandTennessee，inordertobringittoitskneesbeforetheConfederacyandseveritsbondwiththeUnionbythesword。NexttoVirginia，MissouriisatthepresentmomentthemaintheatreoftheCivilWar。
NewMexico—notastate，butmerelyaTerritory，intowhichtwenty—fiveslaveswereimportedduringBuchanan’spresidencyinordertosendaslaveconstitutionafterthemfromWashington—hadnocravingfortheSouth，aseventhelatterconcedes。ButtheSouthhasacravingforNewMexicoandaccordinglyspewedanarmedbandofadventurersfromTexasovertheborder。NewMexicohasimploredtheprotectionoftheUniongovernmentagainsttheseliberators。
Itwillhavebeenobservedthatwelayparticularemphasisonthenumericalproportionofslavestofreemenintheindividualborderstates。Thisproportionisinfactdecisive。Itisthethermometerwithwhichthevitalfireoftheslavesystemmustbemeasured。ThesoulofthewholesecessionmovementisSouthCarolina。Ithas402，541slavesand301，271freemen。Mississippi，whichhasgiventheSouthernConfederacyitsdictator，JeffersonDavis，comessecond。Ithas436，696slavesand354，699freemen。Alabamacomesthird，with435，132slavesand529，164freemen。
Thelastofthecontestedborderstates，whichwehavestilltomention，isKentucky。ItsrecenthistoryisparticularlycharacteristicofthepolicyoftheSouthernConfederacy。Amongits1，135，713inhabitantsKentuckyhas225，490slaves。Inthreesuccessivegeneralelectionsbythepeople—inthewinterof1861，whenelectionstoacongressoftheborderstateswereheld;inJune1861，whenelectionstotheCongressinWashingtontookplace;finally，inAugust1861，inelectionstothelegislatureoftheStateofKentucky—aneverincreasingmajoritydecidedfortheUnion。
Ontheotherhand，Magoffin，theGovernorofKentucky，andallthehighofficialsofthestatearefanaticalsupportersoftheslaveholders’party，asisBreckinridge，Kentucky’srepresentativeintheSenateinWashington，Vice—PresidentoftheUnitedStatesunderBuchanan，andcandidateoftheslaveholders’partyinthepresidentialelectionof1860。TooweaktowinoverKentuckyforsecession，theinfluenceoftheslaveholders’partywasstrongenoughtomakethisstateamenabletoadeclarationofneutralityontheoutbreakofwar。TheConfederacyrecognisedtheneutralityaslongasitserveditspurposes，aslongastheConfederacyitselfwasengagedincrushingtheresistanceineastTennessee。HardlywasthisendattainedwhenitknockedatthegatesofKentuckywiththebuttofaguntothecryof:"TheSouthneedsitsentireterritory。Itwillandmusthaveit！"
Fromthesouth—westandsouth—eastitscorpsoffree—booterssimultaneouslyinvadedthe"neutral"state。Kentuckyawokefromitsdreamofneutrality，itslegislatureopenlytooksideswiththeUnion，surroundedthetraitorousGovernorwithacommitteeofpublicsafety，calledthepeopletoarms，outlawedBreckinridgeandorderedthesecessioniststoevacuatetheinvadedterritoryimmediately。Thiswasthesignalforwar。AnarmyoftheSouthernConfederacyismovingonLouisville，whilevolunteersfromIllinois，IndianaandOhioflockhithertosaveKentuckyfromthearmedmissionariesofslavery。
TheattemptsoftheConfederacytoannexMissouriandKentucky，forexample，againstthewillofthesestates，provethehollownessofthepretextthatitisfightingfortherightsoftheindividualstatesagainsttheencroachmentsoftheUnion。Ontheindividualstatesthatitconsiderstobelongtothe"South"itconfers，tobesure，therighttoseparatefromtheUnion，butbynomeanstherighttoremainintheUnion。
Eventheactualslavestates，howevermuchexternalwar，internalmilitarydictatorshipandslaverygivethemeverywhereforthemomentasemblanceofharmony，areneverthelessnotwithoutoppositionalelements。AstrikingexampleisTexas，with180，388slavesoutof601，039inhabitants。
Thelawof1845，byvirtueofwhichTexasbecameaStateoftheUnionasaslavestate，entitledittoformnotmerelyone，butfivestatesoutofitsterritory。TheSouthwouldtherebyhavegainedtennewvotesinsteadoftwointheAmericanSenate，andanincreaseinthenumberofitsvotesintheSenatewasamajorobjectofitspolicyatthattime。From1845
to1860，however，theslaveholdersfounditimpracticabletocutupTexas，wheretheGermanpopulationplaysanimportantpart，intoeventwostateswithoutgivingthepartyoffreelabourtheupperhandoverthepartyofslaveryinthesecondstate。ThisfurnishesthebestproofofthestrengthoftheoppositiontotheslaveholdingoligarchyinTexasitself。
Georgiaisthelargestandmostpopulousoftheslavestates。
Ithas462，230slavesoutofatotalof1，057，327inhabitants，thereforenearlyhalfthepopulation。Nevertheless，theslaveholders’partyhasnotsofarsucceededingettingtheConstitutionimposedontheSouthatMontgomerysanctionedbyageneralvoteofthepeopleinGeorgia。
IntheStateConventionofLouisiana，meetingonMarch21，1861，atNewOrleans，Roselius，thepoliticalveteranofthestate，declared:
"TheMontgomeryConstitutionisnotaconstitution，butaconspiracy。Itdoesnotinaugurateagovernmentofthepeople，butadetestableandunrestrictedoligarchy。Thepeoplewerenotpermittedtohaveanysayinthismatter。TheConventionofMontgomeryhasdugthegraveofpoliticalliberty，andnowwearesummonedtoattenditsburial。"
Indeed，theoligarchyofthreehundredthousandslaveholdersutilisedtheCongressofMontgomerynotonlytoproclaimtheseparationoftheSouthfromtheNorth。Itexploiteditatthesametimetoreshapetheinternalconstitutionsoftheslavestates，tosubjugatecompletelythesectionofthewhitepopulationthathadstillpreservedsomeindependenceundertheprotectionandthedemocraticConstitutionoftheUnion。Between1856
to1860thepoliticalspokesmen，jurists，moralistsandtheologiansoftheslaveholders’partyhadalreadysoughttoprove，notsomuchthatNegroslaveryisjustified，butratherthatcolourisamatterofindifferenceandtheworkingclassiseverywhereborntoslavery。
Onesees，therefore，thatthewaroftheSouthernConfederacyisinthetruesenseofthewordawarofconquestforthespreadandperpetuationofslavery。ThegreaterpartoftheborderstatesandTerritoriesarestillinthepossessionoftheUnion，whosesidetheyhavetakenfirstthroughtheballot—boxandthenwitharms。TheConfederacy，however，countsthemforthe"South"andseekstoconquerthemfromtheUnion。IntheborderstateswhichtheConfederacyhasoccupiedforthetimebeing，itisholdingtherelativelyfreehighlandsincheckbymartiallaw。Withintheactualslavestatesthemselvesitissupplantingthehithertoexistingdemocracybytheunrestrictedoligarchyofthreehundredthousandslaveholders。
Wereittorelinquishitsplansofconquest，theSouthernConfederacywouldrelinquishitscapacitytoliveandthepurposeofsecession。Secession，indeed，onlytookplacebecausewithintheUnionthetransformationoftheborderstatesandTerritoriesintoslavestatesseemednolongerattainable。
Ontheotherhand，wereittocedethecontestedterritorypeacefullytotheSouthernConfederacy，theNorthwouldsurrendertotheslaverepublicmorethanthree—quartersoftheentireterritoryoftheUnitedStates。
TheNorthwouldlosethewholeoftheGulfofMexicoandtheAtlanticOcean，exceptthenarrowstripfromPenobscotBaytoDelawareBay，andwouldevencutitselfofffromthePacificOcean。Missouri，Kansas，NewMexico，ArkansasandTexaswoulddrawCaliforniaafterthem。IncapableofwrestingthemouthoftheMississippifromthehandsofthestrong，hostileslaverepublicintheSouth，thegreatagriculturalstatesinthebasinbetweentheRockyMountainsandtheAlleghenies，inthevalleysoftheMississippi，theMissouriandtheOhio，wouldbecompelledbytheireconomicintereststosecedefromtheNorthandentertheSouthernConfederacy。Thesenorth—westernstates，intheirturn，woulddrawafterthemintothesamewhirlpoolofsecessionalltheNorthernstateslyingfurthereast，withperhapstheexceptionofthestatesofNewEngland。
WhatwouldinfacttakeplacewouldbenotadissolutionoftheUnion，butareorganisationofit，areorganisationonthebasisofslavery，undertherecognisedcontroloftheslaveholdingoligarchy。
TheplanofsuchareorganisationhasbeenopenlyproclaimedbytheprincipalspeakersoftheSouthattheCongressofMontgomeryandexplainstheparagraphofthenewConstitutionwhichleavesitopentoeverystateoftheoldUniontojointhenewConfederacy。TheslavesystemwouldinfectthewholeUnion。IntheNorthernstates，whereNegroslaveryisinpracticeunworkable，thewhiteworkingclasswouldgraduallybeforceddowntothelevelofhelotry。Thiswouldfullyaccordwiththeloudlyproclaimedprinciplethatonlycertainracesarecapableoffreedom，andastheactuallabouristhelotoftheNegrointheSouth，sointheNorthitisthelotoftheGermanandtheIrishman，ortheirdirectdescendants。
ThepresentstrugglebetweentheSouthandNorthis，therefore，nothingbutastrugglebetweentwosocialsystems，thesystemofslaveryandthesystemoffreelabour。ThestrugglehasbrokenoutbecausethetwosystemscannolongerlivepeacefullysidebysideontheNorthAmericancontinent。
Itcanonlybeendedbythevictoryofonesystemortheother。
Iftheborderstates，thedisputedareasinwhichthetwosystemshavehithertocontendedfordomination，areathorninthefleshoftheSouth，therecan，ontheotherhand，benomistakethat，inthecourseofthewaruptonow，theyhaveconstitutedthechiefweaknessoftheNorth。OnesectionoftheslaveholdersinthesedistrictssimulatedloyaltytotheNorthatthebiddingoftheconspiratorsintheSouth;anothersectionfoundthatinfactitwasinaccordancewiththeirrealinterestsandtraditionalideastogowiththeUnion。BothsectionshaveequallycrippledtheNorth。
Anxietytokeepthe"loyal"slaveholdersoftheborderstatesingoodhumour，fearofthrowingthemintothearmsofsecession，inaword，tenderregardfortheinterests，prejudicesandsensibilitiesoftheseambiguousallies，hassmittentheUniongovernmentwithincurableweaknesssincethebeginningofthewar，drivenittohalfmeasures，forcedittodissembleawaytheprincipleofthewarandtosparethefoe’smostvulnerablespot，therootoftheevil—slaveryitself。
When，onlyrecently，LincolnpusillanimouslyrevokedFrémont’sMissouriproclamationontheemancipationofNegroesbelongingtotherebels，thiswasdonesolelyoutofregardfortheloudprotestofthe"loyal"
slaveholdersofKentucky。However，aturningpointhasalreadybeenreached。
WithKentucky，thelastborderstatehasbeenpushedintotheseriesofbattlefieldsbetweenSouthandNorth。Withtherealwarfortheborderstatesintheborderstatesthemselves，thequestionofwinningorlosingthemiswithdrawnfromthesphereofdiplomaticandparliamentarydiscussions。
Onesectionofslaveholderswillthrowoffthemaskofloyalty;theotherwillcontentitselfwiththeprospectofafinancialcompensationsuchasGreatBritaingavetheWestIndianplanters。Eventsthemselvesdrivetothepromulgationofthedecisiveslogan—emancipationoftheslaves。
ThateventhemosthardenedDemocratsanddiplomatsoftheNorthfeelthemselvesdrawntothispoint，isshownbysomeannouncementsofveryrecentdate。Inanopenletter，GeneralCass，SecretaryofStateforWarunderBuchananandhithertooneofthemostardentalliesoftheSouth，declaresemancipationoftheslavestheconditiosinequanonoftheUnion’ssalvation。InhislastReviewforOctober，Dr。Brownson，thespokesmanoftheCatholicpartyoftheNorth，onhisownadmissionthemostenergeticadversaryoftheemancipationmovementfrom1836to1860，publishesanarticleforAbolition。
"IfwehaveopposedAbolitionheretofore，"hesaysamongotherthings，"becausewewouldpreservetheUnion，wemustafortiorinowopposeslaverywhenever，inourjudgment，itscontinuancebecomesincompatiblewiththemaintenanceoftheUnion，orofthenationasafreerepublicanstate。"
Finally，theWorld，aNewYorkorganofthediplomatsoftheWashingtonCabinet，concludesoneofitslatestblusteringarticlesagainsttheAbolitionistswiththewords:
"OnthedaywhenitshallbedecidedthateitherslaveryortheUnionmustgodown，onthatdaysentenceofdeathispassedonslavery。
IftheNorthcannottriumphwithoutemancipation，itwilltriumphwithemancipation。"
TheDismissalofFrémontKarlMarxTheDismissalofFrémontLondon，December19，1861
Frémont’sdismissalfromthepostofCommander—in—ChiefinMissouriformsaturningpointinthehistoryofthedevelopmentoftheAmericanCivilWar。Fremonthastwogreatsinstoexpiate。HewasthefirstcandidateoftheRepublicanPartyforthepresidentialoffice（1856），andheisthefirstgeneraloftheNorthtohavethreatenedtheslaveholderswithemancipationofslaves（August30，1861）。Heremains，therefore，arivalofcandidatesforthepresidencyinthefutureandanobstacletothemakersofcompromisesinthepresent。
DuringthelasttwodecadesthesingularpracticedevelopedintheUnitedStatesofnotelectingtothepresidencyanymanwhooccupiedanauthoritativepositioninhisownparty。Thenamesofsuchmen，itistrue，wereutilisedforelectiondemonstrations，butassoonasitcametoactualbusiness，theyweredroppedandreplacedbyunknownmediocritiesofmerelylocalinfluence。InthismannerPolk，Pierce，Buchanan，etc。，becamePresidents。
LikewiseAbrahamLincoln。GeneralAndrewJacksonwasinfactthelastPresidentoftheUnitedStateswhoowedhisofficetohispersonalimportance，whilstallhissuccessorsowedit，onthecontrary，totheirpersonalunimportance。
Intheelectionyear1860，themostdistinguishednamesoftheRepublicanPartywereFrémontandSeward。KnownforhisadventuresduringtheMexicanWar，forhisintrepidexplorationofCaliforniaandhiscandidacyof1856，FrémontwastoostrikingafigureeventocomeunderconsiderationassoonasitwasnolongeraquestionofaRepublicandemonstration，butofaRepublicansuccess。Hedidnot，therefore，standasacandidate。ItwasotherwisewithSeward，aRepublicanSenatorintheCongressatWashington，GovernoroftheStateofNewYorkand，sincetheriseoftheRepublicanParty，unquestionablyitsleadingorator。ItrequiredaseriesofmortifyingdefeatstoinduceMr。SewardtorenouncehisowncandidacyandtogivehisoratoricalpatronagetothethenmoreorlessunknownAbrahamLincoln。
Assoon，however，ashesawhisattempttostandasacandidatefail，heimposedhimselfasaRepublicanRichelieuonamanwhomheconsideredasaRepublicanLouisXIII。HecontributedtowardsmakingLincolnPresident，onconditionthatLincolnmadehimsecretaryofState，anofficewhichisinsomemeasurecomparablewiththatofaBritishPrimeMinister。Asamatteroffact，LincolnwashardlyPresident—elect，whenSewardsecuredtheSecretaryshipofState。ImmediatelyasingularchangetookplaceintheattitudeoftheDemosthenesoftheRepublicanParty，whomtheprophesyingofthe"irrepressibleconflict"betweenthesystemoffreeLabourandthesystemofslaveryhadmadefamous。AlthoughelectedonNovember6，1860，LincolntookupofficeasPresidentonlyonMarch4，1861。Intheinterval，duringthewintersessionofCongress，Sewardmadehimselfthecentralfigureofallattemptsatcompromise;theNorthernorgansoftheSouth，suchastheNewYorkHerald，forexample，whosebêtenoireSewardhadbeentillthen，suddenlyextolledhimasthestatesmanofreconciliationand，indeed，itwasnothisfaultthatpeaceatanypricewasnotachieved。
SewardmanifestlyregardedthepostofSecretaryofStateasamerepreliminarystep，andbusiedhimselflesswiththe"irrepressibleconflict"ofthepresentthanwiththepresidencyofthefuture。Hehasprovidedfreshproofthatvirtuososofthetonguearedangerouslyinadequatestatesmen。Readhisstatedispatches！Whatarepulsivemixtureofmagniloquenceandpetty—mindedness，ofsimulatedstrengthandrealweakness！
ForSeward，therefore，Frémontwasthedangerousrivalwhohadtoberuined;anundertakingthatappearedsomuchtheeasiersinceLincoln，inaccordancewithhislegaltradition，hasanaversionforallgenius，anxiouslyclingstotheletteroftheConstitutionandfightsshyofeverystepthatcouldmisleadthe"loyal"slaveholdersoftheborderstates。
Frémont’scharacterofferedanotherhold。Heismanifestlyamanofpathos，somewhathigh—steppingandhaughty，andnotwithoutatouchofthemelodramatic。Firstthegovernmentattemptedtodrivehimtovoluntaryretirementbyasuccessionofpettychicaneries。Whenthisdidnotsucceed，itdeprivedhimofhiscommandattheverymomentwhenthearmyhehimselfhadorganisedcamefacetofacewiththefoeinsouth—westMissouriandadecisivebattlewasimminent。FrémontistheidolofthestatesoftheNorth—west，whichsinghispraisesasthe"pathfinder。"Theyregardhisdismissalasapersonalinsult。ShouldtheUniongovernmentmeetwithafewmoremishapslikethoseofBullRunandBall’sBluff，ithasitselfgiventheopposition，whichwillthenriseupagainstitandsmashthehithertoprevailingdiplomaticsystemofwagingwar，itsleaderinJohnFrémont。WeshallreturnlatertotheindictmentofthedismissedgeneralpublishedbytheWarDepartmentinWashington。