Chapter 21:
- Review of political questions in the — war. -- the thread of Anti-slavery legislation. -- President Lincoln's hesitation. -- the opposition to his administration. -- scheme of compensated emancipation. -- how visionary. -- Mr. Lincoln's motives in suggesting it. -- the President and the Chicago deputation. -- his characteristic discourse on slavery. -- his reference to the Pope's Bull against the Comet. -- political importance of the battle of Sharpsburg. -- the mask dropped. -- the proclamation of emancipation. -- misrepresentations of it. -- an act of malice towards the master, not one of mercy to the slave. -- pretence of “military necessity.” -- dishonour of the plea -- proof of its falsehood. -- effect of the emancipation proclamation on the Confederates. -- President Davis' commentary. -- spirit of the press and people of the Confederacy. -- effect of the proclamation in the North. -- analysis of the Northern elections of 1862. -- the Democratic protest; against President Lincoln's administration. -- speech of Mr. Cox in the Federal Congress. -- supposed design of “reconstruction” of the Union. -- how the idea was treated in Richmond. -- savage denunciations of it. -- Vice -- President Stephens' declaration of Independence or death. -- military operations in the early months of 1863. -- General character of the war in the winter season. -- the recapture of Galveston by the Confederates. -- fight between the cotton-boats and the Federal fleet. -- the Harriet Lane captured. -- the other Federal vessels surrender, but escape under white flags. -- renewed attempts against Vicksburg. -- shameful failure of Sherman's expedition. -- third attempt upon Vicksburg made by Gen. Grant. -- its failure. -- attempt of Farragut's fleet to run past Fort Hudson. -- destruction of the Mississippi. -- capture of Arkansas post by the Federals. -- its importance. -- attack of an iron-clad fleet upon Charleston. -- trial between iron-clads and artillery. -- combat of the Keokuk and Fort Sumter. -- complete triumph of the Confederates. -- the prestige of “Monitors” destroyed
The beginning of the year 1862-when the heavy operations of the war on land were suspended by the rigour of winter-presents a convenient period for review of some political questions in the war. The thread of Anti-Slavery legislation appeared for some time to have been broken with the decree of emancipation in the District of Columbia. President Lincoln evidently hesitated to identify his Administration further with the radical party in the war. A formidable opposition was gathering in the North with especial reference to the Anti-Slavery acts of the Government at Washington; it was declared that these acts were diverting
