OnMarch1，1857，IvisitedWashingtonforthefirsttime。ItwasindeedthefirsttimeIhadevertroddenthesoilofaslaveState，and，goingthroughBaltimore，asenseofthisgavemeafeelingofhorror。Thewholeatmosphereofthatcityseemedgloomy，andthecityofWashingtonnobetter。OurlittlecompanyestablisheditselfattheNationalHotelonPennsylvaniaAvenue，thenafamoushostelry。HenryClayhaddiedtherenotlongbefore，andvariouseminentstatesmenhadmadeit，andwerethenmakingit，theirheadquarters。
OntheeveningofmyarrivalacuriousoccurrenceshowedmethedifferencebetweenNorthernandSoutherncivilization。AsIsatinthereading—room，thererattleduponmyearutterancesbetokeningavigorousdisputeintheadjoiningbar—room，and，astheywereloudandlong，Iroseandwalkedtowardthedisputants，asmenarewonttodoonsuchoccasionsintheNorth;when，tomysurpriseIfoundthat，thoughthevoicesweregrowingsteadilylouder，peoplewereverygenerallyleavingtheroom;
presently，thereasondawneduponme:itwasacaseinwhichrevolversmightbedrawnatanymoment，andthebystandersevidentlythoughtlifeandlimbmorevaluablethananyinformationtheywerelikelytoobtainbyremaining。
OntheeveningofthethirdofMarchIwentwiththecrowdtotheWhiteHouse。Weweremarshalledthroughthehalls，PresidentPiercestandinginthesmallchamberadjoiningtheEastRoomtoreceivetheguests，aroundhimbeingmembersoftheCabinet，withothersdistinguishedinthecivil，military，andnavalservice，and，amongthem，especiallyprominent，SenatorDouglas，thenattheheightofhiscareer。Personsintheprocessionwereformallypresented，receivingakindlyhandshake，andthenallowedtopasson。MyabhorrenceofthePresi—
dentandofDouglaswassobitterthatIdidathingforwhichtheonlyexcusewasmyyouth:——Iheldmyrighthandbymyside，walkedbyandrefusedtobepresented。
NextmorningIwasinthecrowdattheeastfrontoftheCapitol，and，atthetimeappointed，Mr。BuchanancameforthandtooktheoathadministeredtohimbytheChiefJustice，RogerBrookeTaneyofMaryland。ThoughTaneywasverydecrepitandfeeble，IlookedathimmuchasaSpanishProtestantinthesixteenthcenturywouldhavelookedatTorquemada;for，asChiefJustice，hewasunderstoodtobeintheforefrontofthosewhowouldfastenAfricanslaveryonthewholecountry;andthisviewofhimseemedjustifiedwhen，twodaysaftertheinauguration，hegaveforththeDredScottdecision，whichinterpretedtheConstitutioninaccordancewiththeultrapro—slaverytheoryofCalhoun。
Havingtakentheoath，Mr。Buchanandeliveredtheinauguraladdress，anditmadeadeepimpressionuponme。
Ibegantosuspectthen，andIfullybelievenow，thathewassincere，as，indeed，weremostofthosewhommenofmywayofthinkinginthosedaysattackedaspro—slaverytoolsandridiculedas``doughfaces。’’Wewhohadlivedremotefromthesceneofaction，andapartfrompressingresponsibility，hadnotrealizedthedangerofcivilwaranddisunion。Mr。Buchanan，andmenlikehim，inCongress，constantlyassociatingwithSouthernmen，realizedboththesedangers。Theyhonestlyandpatrioticallyshrankfromthishorribleprospect;andso，hadwerealizedwhatwastocome，wouldmostofushavedone。Ididnotseethisthen，butlookingbackacrosstheabyssofyearsIdistinctlyseeitnow。Theleadersonbothsideswerehonestandpatriotic，and，asIfirmlybelieve，instrumentsofthat``Powerintheuniverse，notourselves，whichmakesforrighteousness。’’
TherewasinMr。Buchanan’sinauguraladdressatoneofdeepearnestness。HedeclaredthatallhiseffortsshouldbegiventorestoretheUnion，andtorestablishituponpermanentfoundations;besoughthisfellow—citizensthroughouttheUniontosecondhiminthiseffort，andpromisedthatundernocircumstanceswouldhebeacandidateforrelection。Myanti—slaveryfeelingsremainedasdeepasever，but，hearingthisspeech，therecameintomymindaninklingofthetruth:``HinterdemBergesindauchLeute。’’
DuringmystayinWashingtonIseveraltimesvisitedtheSenateandtheHouse，intheoldquarterswhichtheyshortlyafterwardvacatedinordertoenterthemorecommodiousroomsoftheCapitol，thennearlyfinished。
TheSenatewasintheroomatpresentoccupiedbytheSupremeCourt，andfromthegalleryIlookeddownuponitwithmingledfeelingsofawe，distrust，andaversion。There，asitspresident，satMasonofVirginia，authorofthefugitiveslavelaw;there，atthedeskinfrontofhim，satCassofMichigan，who，foryears，hadbeenespeciallysubservienttotheslavepower;DouglasofIllinois，whohadbroughtaboutthedestructionoftheMissouriCompromise;ButlerofSouthCarolina，whorepresentedinperfectiontheslave—owningaristocracy;
SlidellandBenjaminofLouisiana，destinedsoontoplayleadingpartsinthedisruptionoftheUnion。
Buttherewereothers。TherewasSeward，ofmyownState，whomIhadbeenbroughtuptorevere，andwhoseemedtome，inthestrugglethengoingon，theincarnationofrighteousness;therewasCharlesSumnerofMassachusetts，justrecoveringfromthemurderousblowsgivenhimbyPrestonBrooksofSouthCarolina，——amartyr，asIheld，tohisdevotiontofreedom;therewasJohnParkerHaleofNewHampshire，whohadbeenvirtuallythreatenedwithmurder，asapenaltyforhisoppositiontoslavery;andtherewasbluffBenWadeofOhio，whosecouragestrengthenedthewholeNorth。
TheHouseofRepresentativesinterestedmeless。Inittheresatvariousmennowmainlypassedoutofhumanmemory;and，unfortunately，thehall，thoughoneofthefinest，architecturally，intheworld，wasoneoftheleastsuitedtoitspurpose。Tohearanythingeitherinthegalleriesoronthefloorwasalmostanimpossibility。
TheSupremeCourt，thoughsittinginawretchedroominthebasement，madeafardeeperimpressionuponme。Thejudges，seatedinarow，andwearingtheirsimple，silkengowns，seemedtome，intheirquietdignity，whatthehighestcourtofagreatrepublicoughttobe;thoughIlookedatChiefJusticeTaneyandhispro—slaveryassociatesmuchasaHindooregardshisdestructivegods。
ThegeneralimpressionmadeuponmeatWashingtonwasdiscouraging。Itdroveoutfrommymindthelastlingeringdesiretotakeanypartinpolitics。Thewholelifetherewasrepulsivetome，andwhenIreflectedthatastayofafewyearsinthatforlorn，decaying，reekingcitywasthegoalofpoliticalambition，thewholethingseemedtomeutterlyworthless。Thewholelifethereboretheimpressoftheslipshodhabitsengenderedbyslavery，anditseemedacivilizationrottingbeforeripeness。Thecitywascertainly，atthattime，themostwretchedcapitalinChristendom。PennsylvaniaAvenuewasasortofSloughofDespond，——withrutsandmud—
holesfromtheunfinishedCapitol，atoneend，totheunfinishedTreasurybuilding，attheother，andboundedonbothsideswithcheapbricktenements。Theextensivenewresidencequarterandbetterhotelsofthesedayshadnotbeendreamedof。The``National，’’wherewewereliving，wasesteemedthebesthotel，anditwasabominable。Justbeforewearrived，whatwasknownasthe``NationalHotelDisease’’hadbrokenoutinit;——
bysomeimputedtoanattempttopoisontheincomingPresident，inordertobringtheVice—Presidentintohisplace。Butthatwasthemerewildsurmiseofapoliticalpessimist。ThefactclearlywasthatthewretchedsewageofWashington，inthosedays，whichwasbetrayedinallpartsofthehotelbyeverykindofnoisomeodor，hadatlastbeguntodoitswork。Curiouslyenoughtherewasaninterregnuminthereignofsicknessanddeath，probablyowingtosometemporarysanitaryefforts，andthatinterregnum，fortunatelyforus，wascoincidentwithourstaythere。Butthediseasesetinagainshortlyafterward，andacollegefriendofmine，whoarrivedonthedayofourdeparture，wasdetainedinthehotelformanyweekswiththefeverthencontracted。Thenumberofdeathswasconsiderable，but，intheinterestofthehotel，thematterwashushedup，asfaraspossible。
ThefollowingautumnIreturnedtoNewHavenasaresidentgraduate，and，thepopularlecturesystembeingthenatitsheight，wasinvitedtobecomeoneofthelecturersinthecourseofthatwinter。Ipreparedmydiscoursewithgreatcare，basingituponstudiesandobservationsduringmyrecentstayinthelandoftheCzar，andgaveitthetitleof``CivilizationinRussia。’’
IrememberfeelinggreatlyhonoredbythefactthatmypredecessorinthecoursewasTheodoreParker，andmysuccessorRalphWaldoEmerson。Bothtalkedwithmemuchaboutmysubject，andParkersurprisedme。
HewasthenearestapproachtoomniscienceIhadeverseen。Hewasabletoread，notonlyRussian，buttheOldSlavonic。HediscussedthemostintimatedetailsofthingsinRussia，until，atlast，Isaidtohim，``Mr。
Parker，IwouldmuchrathersitatyourfeetandlistentoyourinformationregardingRussia，thanendeavortogiveyouanyofmyown。’’Hewasespeciallyinterestedintheethnologyoftheempire，andhadanimmenseknowledgeofthedifferentpeoplesinhabitingit，andoftheircharacteristics。Finally，heaskedmewhatchanceIthoughttherewasforthegrowthofanythinglikefreeinstitutionsinRussia。TothisI
answeredthatthebestthingtheyhadwastheirsystemoflocalpeasantmeetingsfortherepartitionoftheirlands，andforthediscussionofsubjectsconnectedwiththem，andthatthisseemedtomesomethinglikeagermofwhatmight，infuturegenerations，becomeasortoftown—meetingsystem，likethatofNewEngland。Thisletmeoutofthediscussionverysatisfactorily，forParkertoldmethathehadarrivedatthesameconclusion，aftertalkingwithCountGurowski，whowas，inthosedays，anespecialauthority。
Induetimecametheeveningformylecture。AsitwasthefirstoccasionsinceleavingcollegethatIhadappearedonanystage，aconsiderablenumberofmyoldcollegeassociatesandfriends，includingProfessor（afterwardPresident）Porter，Dr。Bacon，andMr。（afterwardBishop）Littlejohn，werethereamongtheforemost，andafterIhadfinishedtheysaidsomekindlythings，whichencouragedme。
InthislectureImadenomentionofAmericanslavery，butintoanaccountoftheeventsofmystayatSt。
PetersburgandMoscowduringtheCrimeanWar，andofthedeathandfuneraloftheEmperorNicholas，withtheaccessionandfirstpublicaddressofAlexanderII，Isketched，inbroadstrokes，theeffectsoftheserfsystem，——effectsnotmerelyupontheserfs，butupontheserfowners，anduponthewholeconditionoftheempire。
Imadeitblackindeed，asitdeserved，andthoughnotawordwassaidregardingthingsinAmerica，everythoughtfulmanpresentmusthavefeltthatitwasthestrongestindictmentagainstourownsystemofslaverywhichmypowersenabledmetomake。
Nextdaycameacuriousepisode。Aclassmateofmine，neverdistinguishedforlogicalacuteness，cameoutinaleadingdailypaperwithaviolentattackuponmeandmylecture。Helamentedthefactthatonewho，ashesaid，had，whileincollege，shownmuchdevotiontotheanti—
slaverycause，hadnowfacedabout，hadnolongerthecourageofhisopinions，andhadnotdaredsayawordagainstslaveryintheUnitedStates。Thearticlewaslaughable。Itwouldhavebeeneasytoattackslaveryandthusatonceshutthemindsandheartsofalargemajorityoftheaudience。ButIfeltthen，asIhavegenerallyfeltsince，thatthefirstandbestthingtodoistoSETPEOPLEAT
THINKING，andtoletthemdiscover，orthinkthattheydiscover，thetruthforthemselves。Imadenoreply，butaneminentclergymanofNewHaventookupthecudgelsinmyfavor，coveredmyopponentwithridicule，anddidmethehonortodeclarethatmylecturewasoneofthemosteffectiveanti—slaveryargumentsevermadeinthatcity。
Withthis，Iretiredfromthefieldwellsatisfied。
Thelecturewasaskedforinvariouspartsofthecountry，wasdeliveredatvariouscollegesanduniversities，andinmanycitiesofwesternNewYork，Michigan，andOhio;
andfinally，aftertheemancipationoftheserfs，wasre—
castandrepublishedinthe``AtlanticMonthly’’underthetitleof``TheRiseandDeclineoftheSerfSysteminRussia。’’
Andnowoccurredagreatchangeinmycareerwhich，asIfullybelieved，wastocutmeofffromallpoliticallifethoroughlyandpermanently。ThiswasmyelectiontotheprofessorshipofhistoryandEnglishliteratureintheUniversityofMichigan。
CHAPTERV
THECIVILWARPERIOD——1857—1864
ArrivingattheUniversityofMichiganinOctober，1857，Ithrewmyselfintomynewworkmostheartily。
ThoughIfeltdeeplytheimportanceofthequestionsthenbeforethecountry，itseemedtomethattheonlywayinwhichIcouldcontributeanythingtotheirsolutionwasinaidingtotrainupanewraceofyoungmenwhoshouldunderstandourowntimeanditsproblemsinthelightofhistory。
Itwasnotdifficulttopointoutmanythingsinthepastthathadanimportantbearinguponthepresent，andmymainworkinthislinewasdoneinmylecture—room。I
madenoattemptstoproselyteanyofmyhearerstoeitherpoliticalparty，mymainaimbeingthen，asithasbeenthroughmylife，whendealingwithstudentsandthepublicatlarge，tosetmyaudienceormyreadersatthinking，andtogivethemfruitfulhistoricalsubjectstothinkupon。Amongthesesubjectsespeciallybroughtoutindealingwiththemiddleages，wastheorigin，growth，anddeclineoffeudalism，andespeciallyoftheserfsystem，andofmunicipallibertiesasconnectedwithit。This，ofcourse，hadageneralbearingupontheimportantproblemwehadtosolveintheUnitedStatesduringthesecondhalfofthatcentury。
Inmylecturesonmodernhistory，andespeciallyontheReformationperiod，andtheeventswhichledtotheFrenchRevolution，therewerevariousthingsthrowinglightuponourownproblems，whichservedmypurposeofarousingthought。Myaudienceswerelargeandattentive，andIhavenever，inthewholecourseofmylife，enjoyedanyworksomuchasthis，whichbroughtmeintoheartyandcloserelationswithalargebodyofactive—
mindedstudentsfromallpartsofourcountry，andespeciallyfromtheNorthwest。MoreandmoreIrealizedthejusticeofPresidentWayland’sremark，whichhadsoimpressedmeattheYaleAlumnimeetingjustaftermyreturnfromEurope:thatthenationwasapproachinga``switching—offplace’’;thatwhetherweweretoturntowardevilorgoodinourpoliticswouldbedecidedbythegreatNorthwest，andthatitwouldbewellforyoungAmericanstocastintheirlotwiththatpartofthecountry。
IntheintervalsofmyuniversityworkmanyinvitationscametomefromassociationsinvariouspartsofMichiganandneighboringStatestolecturebeforethem，andtheseIwasgladtoaccept。Suchlectureswereofamuchmoregeneralcharacterthanthosegivenintheuniversity，butbythemIsoughttobringthepeopleatlargeintotrainsofthoughtwhichwouldfitthemtograpplewiththegreatquestionwhichwasrisingmoreandmoreportentouslybeforeus。
Havingaccepted，inoneofmyvacations，aninvitationtodeliverthePhiBetaKappaCommencementAddressatYale，Ilaiddownasmythesis，andargueditfromhistory，thatinallrepublics，ancientormodern，theworstfoeoffreedomhadbeenaman—owningaristocracy——anaristocracybaseduponslavery。Theaddresswascirculatedinprintedform，wasconsiderablydiscussed，and，I
trust，helpedtosetsomefewpeoplethinking。
ForthesamepurposeIalsothrewsomeofmylecturesintotheformofmagazinearticlesforthe``AtlanticMonthly，’’andespeciallyoneentitled``TheStatesmanshipofRichelieu，’’myeffortinthisbeingtoshowthattheonegreaterrorofthatgreatestofallFrenchstatesmenwasinstoppingshortofrootingouttheserfsysteminFrancewhenhehadcompletelysubjugatedtheserfownersandhadthemathismercy。
Astheyear1860approached，thepoliticalstrugglebecamemoreandmorebitter。PresidentBuchananinredeeminghispromisetomaintaintheUnionhadgonetolengthswhichstartledanddisappointedmanyofhismostdevotedsupporters。CivilwarhadbrokenoutinKansasandNebraska，withmurderandmassacre:desperateattemptsweremadetofastentheholdofthepro—slaverypartypermanentlyupontheState，andasdesperatelyweretheseeffortsrepelled。AcertainJohnBrown，whorequitedassassinationoffree—statemenbytheassassinationofslave—statemen，——averyominousappearance，——begantobeheardof;menlikeProfessorSilliman，who，duringmystayatYalehadspokenatUnionmeetingsinfavorofthenewcompromisemeasures，evenincludingthefugitiveslavelaw，nowspokepubliclyinfavorofsendingriflestothefree—statemeninKansas;and，moststrikingsymptomofall，StephenA。Douglashimself，whohadledtheDemocraticpartyinbreakingtheMissouriCompromise，nowrecoiledfromtheultrapro—slaverypropagandaofPresidentBuchanan。Then，too，cameanewincitementtobitternessbetweenNorthandSouth。JohnBrown，themanofScotch—Covenantertype，whohadimbibedhistheoriesofpoliticalmethodsfromtheOld—TestamentannalsofJewishdealingswiththeheathen，andwhohadinKansassolemnlyslaughteredincoldblood，asasortofsacrificebeforetheLord，sundryMissourimarauderswhohadassassinatedfree—statemen，suddenlyappearedinVirginia，andthere，atHarper’sFerry，withahandfuloffanaticssubjecttohispowerfulwill，raisedthestandardofrevolutionagainsttheslave—power。Ofcoursehewaseasilybeatendown，hisforcesscattered，thosedearesttohimshot，andhehimselfhanged。Buthewasacharacterofantiquemold，andthisdesperateeffortfollowedbyhisdeath，whileitexasperatedtheSouth，stirredtheNorthtoitsdepths。
Likeallsuchefforts，itwasreallymistakenandunfortunate。IthelpedtoobscureHenryClay’sproposaltoextinguishslaverypeaceably，andmadethesolutionoftheproblembybloodshedmoreandmorecertain。AndintheexecutionofJohnBrownwaslostamanwho，hadheliveduntiltheCivilWar，mighthaverenderedenormousservicesasapartizanleader。Ofcourse，hisactionarousedmuchthoughtamongmystudents，andtheirideascameoutintheirpublicdiscussions。Itwaspartofmyduty，onceortwiceaweek，topresideoverthesediscussions，andtodecidebetweentheviewspresented。InthesedecisionsonthepoliticalquestionsnowarisingIbecamedeeplyinterested，andwhileIwascarefulnottogivethemapartizancharacter，theywere，ofcourse，opposedtothedominanceofslavery。
Inthespringof1860，theRepublicanNationalConventionwasheldatChicago，andonefinemorningIwenttotherailwaystationtogreettheNewYorkdelegationonitswaythither。AmongthedelegateswhomIespeciallyrecallwereWilliamM。Evarts，underwhoseSecretaryshipofStateIafterwardservedasministeratBerlin，andmyoldcollegefriend，StewartL。Woodford，withwhomIwaslaterincloserelationsduringhistermaslieutenant—governorofNewYorkandministertoSpain。
ThecandidateoftheseNewYorkdelegateswasofcourseMr。Seward，andmymostdevouthopeswerewithhim，butafewdayslatercamenewsthatthenominationhadbeenawardedtoMr。Lincoln。HimwehadcometoknowandadmireduringhisdebateswithDouglaswhilethesenatorialcontestwasgoingonintheStateofIllinois;
stillthedefeatofMr。Sewardwasagreatdisappointment，andhardlylesssoinMichiganthaninNewYork。InthepoliticalcampaignwhichfollowedItooknodirectpart，thoughespeciallyarousedbythespeechesofanewmanwhohadjustappearedabovethehorizon，——CarlSchurz。
Hisargumentsseemedtomebyfarthebestofthatwholecampaign——thebroadest，thedeepest，andthemostconvincing。
Mydearandhonoredfather，duringthemonthsofJuly，August，andthefirstdaysofSeptember，wasslowlyfadingawayonhisdeath—bed。Yethewasnonethelessinterestedinthequestionatissue，andeverydayIsatbyhisbedsideandreadtohimtheliteraturebearinguponthecontest;butofallthespeecheshebestlikedthoseofthisneworator——hepreferredthem，indeed，tothoseofhisidolSeward。
Ihaverelatedinanotherplacehow，yearsafterward，Bismarckaskedme，inBerlin，towhatCarlSchurz’sgreatsuccessinAmericawasdue，andmyanswertothisquestion。
Mr。Lincolnhavingbeenelected，Iwentonwithmydutiesasbefore，butthestrugglewasrapidlydeepening。
Sooncamepremonitionsofrealconflict，and，earlyinthefollowingspring，civilwarwasuponus。Myteachingwenton，asofold，butitbecamemoredirect。Inordertoshowwhatthemaintenanceofarepublicwasworth，andwhatpatriotshadbeenwillingtodofortheircountryinastrugglenotunlikeours，IadvisedmystudentstoreadMotley’s``HistoryoftheDutchRepublic，’’andIstillthinkitwasgoodadvice。Otherworks，ofasimilarcharacter，showinghowfreepeopleshaveconductedlonganddesperatewarsforthemaintenanceoftheirnationalexistenceandofliberty，Ialsorecommended，andwithgoodeffect。
Reversescame。Duringpartofmyvacation，inthesummerof1861，IwasatSyracuse，andhad，asmyguest，Mr。
GeorgeSumner，youngerbrotheroftheeminentsenatorfromMassachusetts，amanwhohadseenmuchoftheworld，hadwrittenmagazinearticlesandreviewswhichhaddonehimcredit，andwhosepopularlectureswerewidelyesteemed。OneSundayafternooninJunemyuncle，Mr。HamiltonWhite，droppedinatmyhousetomakeafriendlycall。HehadjustreturnedfromWashington，wherehehadseenhisoldfriendSeward，Mr。Lincoln’sSecretaryofState，andfeltabletogiveusaforecastofthefuture。Thisuncleofminewasathoughtfulmanofaffairs;successfulinbusiness，excellentinjudgment，notatallpronetosanguineorflightyviews，andonouraskinghimhowmatterslookedinWashingtonhesaid，``Dependuponit，itisallright:Sewardsaysthattheyhavedecidedtoendthetroubleatonce，evenifitisnecessarytoraiseanarmyoffiftythousandmen;——thattheywillsendtroopsimmediatelytoRichmondandfinishthewholethingatonce，sothatthecountrycangoonquietlyaboutitsbusiness。’’
Therewas，ofcourse，somethingreassuringinsofavorableastatementmadebyasensiblemanfreshfromthemostaccreditedsources，andyetIcouldnotresistgravedoubts。SuchhistoricalknowledgeasIpossessedtaughtmethatastrugglelikethatjustbeginningbetweentwogreatprinciples，bothofwhichhadbeengatheringforcefornearlyacentury，andeachofwhichhaddrawntoitssupportmillionsofdevotedmen，wasnottobeendedsoeasily;butIheldmypeace。
NextdayItookMr。SumneronanexcursionupthebeautifulOnondagaValley。AswedrovethroughthestreetsofSyracuse，noticingknotsofmengatheredhereandthereindiscussion，andespeciallyatthedoorsofthenewsoffices，wesecuredanafternoonnewspaperanddroveon，engagedinearnestconversation。Itwasacharmingday，andaswecametotheshadeofsomelargetreesabouttwomilesfromthecitywerestedandItookoutthepaper。
Itstruckmelikedeath。There，displayedinallitshorrors，wasthefirstaccountoftheBattleofBullRun，——
whichhadbeenfoughtthepreviousafternoon，——exactlyatthetimewhenmyunclewasassuringusthattheUnitedStatesArmywastomarchatoncetoRichmondandendthewar。Thecatastropheseemedfatal。TheplansofGeneralMcDowellhadcomeutterlytonought;ourarmyhadbeenscatteredtothefourwinds;largenumbersofpersons，includingsundrymembersofCongresswhohadairilygoneoutwiththearmyto``seethefun，’’amongthemonefromourownneighborhood，Mr。AlfredEly，ofRochester，hadbeencapturedandsenttoRichmond，andtherebelsweresaidtobeinfullmarchontheNationalCapital。
Sumnerwasjubilant。``This，’’hesaid，``willmaketheAmericanpeopleunderstandwhattheyhavetodo;thiswillstoptalksuchasyourunclegaveusyesterdayafternoon。’’Buttomeitwasafearfulmoment。Sumner’sremarksgratedhorriblyuponmyears;trueashisviewwas，Icouldnotyetacceptit。
Andnowpreparationsforwar，and，indeed，forrepellinginvasion，beganinearnest。Myfriendsallaboutmewerevolunteering，andIalsovolunteered，butwasrejectedwithscorn;theexaminingphysiciansayingtome，``Youwillbeaburdenuponthegovernmentinthefirsthospitalyoureach;youhavenottheconstitutiontobeofuseincarryingamusket;yourworkmustbeofadifferentsort。’’
Mywork，then，throughthesummerwaswiththosewhosoughttoraisetroopsandtoprovideequipmentsforthem。Therewasgreatneedofthis，and，inmyopinion，theAmericanpeoplehaveneverappearedtobetteradvantagethanatthattime，whentheybegantorealizetheirduty，andtosetthemselvesatdoingit。Ineverycity，village，andhamlet，menandwomentookholdofthework，feelingthatthewarwastheirownpersonalbusiness。Noothercountrysincetheworldbeganhaseverseenamorenobleoutburstofpatriotismormoreefficientaidbyindividualstotheirgovernment。TheNationalandStateauthoritiesofcoursedideverythingintheirpower;butmenandwomendidnotwaitforthem。Withtheexceptionofthosewhosebitterpartizanshipledthemtoopposethewarinallitsphases，men，women，andchildrenengagedheartilyandefficientlyineffortstoaidtheUnioninitsstruggle。
Variousthingsshowedthedepthsofthisfeeling。I
remembermeetingoneday，atthatperiod，amanwhohadrisenbyhardworkfromsimplebeginningstotheheadofanimmensebusiness，andhadmadehimselfamulti—
millionaire。Hewasahard，determined，shrewdmanofaffairs，thelastmanintheworldtoshowanythinglikesentimentalism，andashesaidsomethingadvisinganinvestmentinthenewlycreatedNationaldebt，Ianswered，``Youarenot，then，oneofthosewhobelievethatournewdebtwillberepudiated？’’Heanswered:``Repudia—
tionornorepudiation，IamputtingeverythingIcanrakeandscrapetogetherintoNationalbonds，tohelpthisgovernmentmaintainitself;for，byG——d，ifIamnottohaveanycountry，Idon’twantanymoney。’’Itistobehopedthatthisoath，burstingforthfromapatrioticheart，was，likeUncleToby’s，blottedoutbytherecordingangel。IhavequoteditmorethanoncetoshowhowtheaverageAmerican——thoughapparentlyacrudematerialist——
is，atheart，athoroughidealist。
ReturningtotheUniversityofMichiganatthecloseofthevacation，Ifoundthatmanyofmystudentshadenlisted，andthatmanymorewerepreparingtodoso。Withsomeitwashardindeed。Iremembertwoespecially，whohadforyearslaboredandsavedtoraisethemoneywhichwouldenablethemtotaketheiruniversitycourse;theyhadhesitated，foratime，toenlist;butveryearlyonemorningIwascalledoutofbedbyamessagefromthem，and，meetingthem，foundthemreadytoleaveforthearmy。Theycouldresisttheirpatrioticconvictionsnolonger，andtheyhadcometosaygood—byetome。Theywentintothewar;theyfoughtbravelythroughthethickestofit;andthoughonewasbadlywounded，bothlivedtoreturn，andareto—dayhonoredcitizens。Withmanyothersitwasdifferent;many，verymanyofthem，alas，wereamongthe``unreturningbrave！’’andloveliestandnoblestofall，mydearfriendandstudent，FrederickArne，ofPrinceton，Illinois，killedinthebattleofShiloh，attheverybeginningofthewar，whenallwasblacknessanddiscouragement。AnotherofmydeareststudentsatthattimewasAlbertNye。Scholarly，eloquent，noble—hearted，witheverygifttoensuresuccessincivillife，hewentforthwiththeothers，rosetobecaptainofacompany，andI
thinkmajorofaregiment。Hesentmemostkindlymessages，andatonetimeabowie—knifecapturedfromarebelsoldier。But，alas！hewasnottoreturn。
Imayremark，inpassing，thatwhiletheseyoungmenfromtheuniversities，andavasthostofothersfromdifferentwalksoflife，weregoingforthtolaydowntheirlivesfortheircountry，theEnglishpress，almostwithoutexception，fromthe``Times’’down，wasinsistingthatwewerefightingourbattleswith``mercenaries。’’
Onewayinwhichthoseofuswhoremainedattheuniversityhelpedthegoodcausewasinpromotingthemilitarydrillofthosewhohaddeterminedtobecomesoldiers。
Itwasverydifficulttosecurethepropermilitaryinstruction，butinDetroitIfoundaWestPointgraduate，engagedhimtocomeoutacertainnumberoftimeseveryweektodrillthestudents，andhecheeredusmuchbysayingthathehadneverinhislifeseensoldierssomuchinearnest，andsorapidinmakingthemselvesmastersofthedrillandtactics。
Oneofmyadvisersatthisperiod，andoneofthenoblestmenIhaveevermet，wasLieutenantKirbySmith，agraduateofWestPoint，andalieutenantinthearmy。
Hisfather，afterwhomhewasnamed，hadbeenkilledattheBattleofMolinodelRey，intheMexicanWar。Hisuncle，alsoknownasKirbySmith，wasageneralintheConfederateservice。Hismother，oneofthedearestfriendsofmyfamily，wasawomanofextraordinaryabilities，andofthenoblestqualities。NeverhaveIknownayoungofficerofmorepromise。WithhimIdiscussedfromtimetotimetheprobabilitiesofthewar。Hewasfullofdevotion，quietedmyfears，andstrengthenedmyhopes。He，too，foughtsplendidlyforhiscountry，andlikehisfather，laiddownhislifeforit。
Thebitterestdisappointmentofthatperiod，andIregretdeeplytochronicleit，wastheconductofthegovernmentandrulingclassesinEngland。InviewofthefactthatpopularsentimentinGreatBritain，especiallyasvoicedinitsliterature，initspress，andfromitspulpit，hadbeenagainstslavery，Ihadneverdoubtedthatinthisstruggle，soevidentlybetweenslaveryandfreedom，GreatBritainwouldbeunanimouslyonourside。Tomyamazementsignssoonbegantopointinanotherdirection。MoreandmoreitbecameevidentthatBritishfeelingwasagainstus。Tomystudents，whoinquiredhowthiscouldpossiblybe，Isaid，``WaittillLordJohnRussellspeaks。’’LordJohnRussellspoke，andmyheartsankwithinme。HewasthesolemnlyconstitutedimpostorwhosecriminalcarelessnessletouttheAlabamatopreyuponourcommerce，andwhowouldhaveletoutmorecruisershadnotMr。
CharlesFrancisAdams，theAmericanminister，broughthimtoreason。
LordJohnRussellwasnotedforhiscoolness，butinthisrespectMr。Adamswasmorethanhismatch。InafteryearsIrememberajokebaseduponthischaracteristic。
DuringaveryhotsummerinKansas，whentheStatewassufferingwithdrought，somenewspaperproposed，andthepressverygenerallyacquiescedinthesuggestion，thatMr。CharlesFrancisAdamsshouldbeaskedtotakeatourthroughtheState，inorder，byhispresence，toreduceitstemperature。
When，therefore，LordJohnRussellshowednosignsofinterferingwiththesendingforthofEnglishships，——
Englishbuilt，Englishequipped，andlargelyEnglishmanned，——againstourcommerce，Mr。Adams，havingsummeduptohisLordshiptheconductoftheBritishGovernmentinthematter，closedinhismosticywaywiththewords:``Mylord，Ineedhardlyremindyouthatthisiswar。’’
Theresultwas，thattardily，——justintimetopreventwarbetweenthetwonations，——ordersweregivenwhichpreventedthepassingoutofmorecruisers。
GoldwinSmith，whointhedaysofhisprofessorshipatOxford，sawmuchofLordJohnRussell，oncetoldmethathislordshipalwaysmadeuponhimtheimpressionof``aneminentcorn—doctor。’’
Duringthefollowingsummer，thatof1863，beingmuchbrokendownbyoverwork，andthreatened，asIsupposed，withheartdisease，whichturnedouttobethebeginningofatroublesomedyspepsia，IwasstronglyrecommendedbymyphysiciantotakearapidruntoEurope，andthoughveryreluctanttoleavehome，wasatlastpersuadedtogotoNewYorktotakemypassage。Arrivedthere，badnewsstillcomingfromtheseatofwar，Icouldnotbringmyselfatthesteamerofficetosignthenecessarypapers，finallyrefused，andhavingreturnedhome，tookpartforthefirsttimeinapoliticalcampaignasaspeaker，goingthroughcentralNewYork，andsupportingtheRepublicancandidateagainsttheDemocratic。Theelectionseemedofvastimportance。TheDemocratshadnominatedforthegovernorship，Mr。HoratioSeymour，amanofthehighestpersonalcharacter，and，sofarastheusualdutiesofgovernorwereconcerned，admirable;buthehadbeenbitterlyopposedtothewar，anditseemedsurethathiselectionwouldencouragetheSouthandmakedisunioncertain;thereforeitwasthatIthrewmyselfintothecampaignwithallmymight，speakingnightandday;butalas！theelectionwentagainstus。
Atthecloseofthecampaign，mydyspepsiareturningwithrenewedviolence，Iwasthinkingwhatshouldbedone，whenIhappenedtomeetmyfather’soldfriend，Mr。
ThurlowWeed，adevotedadherentofMr。Sewardthroughhiswholecareer，and，atthatmoment，oneofthemainsupportsoftheLincolnAdministration。ItwasuponthedeckofaNorthRiversteamer，andonmymentioningmydilemmahesaid:``Youcanjustnowdomoreforusabroadthanathome。YoucanworkinthesamelinewithArchbishopHughes，BishopMcIlvaine，andmyself;everythingthatcanbedone，intheshapeofcontributionstonewspapers，orspeeches，eventothemostrestrictedaudiencesabroad，willhelpus:thegreatthingistogaintime，increasethenumberofthosewhoopposeEuropeaninterventioninouraffairs，andprocuretakersforournewNationalbonds。’’
TheresultwasthatImadeashortvisittoEurope，stoppingfirstinLondon。Politicalfeelingtherewasbitterlyagainstus。Ahandfuloftruemen，JohnBrightandGoldwinSmithattheheadofthem，weredoingheroicworkinourbehalf，buttheforcesagainstthemseemedoverwhelming。DrawingmoneyonemorninginoneofthelargebanksofLondon，IhappenedtoexhibitafewofthenewNationalgreenbacknoteswhichhadbeenrecentlyissuedbyourGovernment。Themomenttheclerksawthemhecalledoutloudly，``Don’tofferusanyofthosethings;wedon’ttakethem;theywillneverbegoodforanything。’’Iwasgreatlyvexed，ofcourse，buttherewasnohelpforit。AtanothertimeIwentintoafamousbook—shopneartheHaymarkettopurchaseararebookwhichIhadlongcoveted。ItwasjustaftertheBattleofFredericksburg。Thebook—sellerwaschattingwithacustomer，andfinally，withevidentsatisfaction，saidtohim:
``IseetheYankeeshavebeenbeatenagain。’’``Yes，’’saidthecustomer，``andthepaperssaythattenthousandofthemhavebeenkilled。’’``Good，’’saidtheshop—keeper，``Iwishithadbeentwiceasmany。’’Ofcourseitwasimpossibleformetomakeanypurchaseinthatplace。
InordertoascertainpublicsentimentIvisitedcertain``discussionforums，’’astheyarecalled，frequentedbycontributorstothepressandyounglawyersfromtheTempleandInnsofCourt。Inthoseplacestherewas，asarule，adebateeverynight，andgenerally，inoneformoranother，uponthestrugglethengoingonintheUnitedStates。Therewas，perhaps，inallthisatrifletoomuchoftheThreeTailorsofTooleyStreet;still，excellentspeecheswerefrequentlymade，andtherewasapleasureindoingmyshareingettingthecompanyontherightside。Ononeoccasion，afteroneofourworstreversesduringthewar，anorator，withanIrishbrogue，thickenedbyhotwhisky，said，``IhopethatRepublicofblackguardsisgoneforever。’’But，afterward，onlearningthatanAmericanwaspresent，apologizedtomeinawayeffusive，laudatory，andevenaffectionate。