Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 2.

“ [178] and not compel us to resort further to the force under our control. The Government asks only that its authority may be recognized; and, we repeat, in no manner or way does it desire to interfere with your laws, constitutionally established, your institutions of any kind whatever, your property of any sort, or your usages in any respect.”

this appeal alarmed the Confederate leaders in that State, and the Governor, Henry T. Clark, issued a counter-proclamation a few days afterward,

Feb. 22, 1862.

in which he denounced the expedition as an attempt to deprive the inhabitants of liberty, property, and all they held “most dear as a self-governing and free people.” he called upon them to supply the requisitions just made by Jefferson Davis for troops to repel the enemy. “we must resist him,” he said, “at all hazards, and by every means in our power. He wages a war for our subjugation — a war forced upon us in wrong, and prosecuted without right, and in a spirit of vengeful wickedness, without a parallel in the history of warfare among civilized nations.” he assured them that the Government was increasing its efforts “and straining every nerve” not to regain its rightful authority, but to overrun the country and subjugate the people to its domination, its “avarice and ambition.” “I call upon the brave and patriotic men of our State to volunteer,” he said, “from the mountains to the sea.”

such was the opposing spirit of the Government, and the conspirators against its life. The former was anxious for peace, the latter were zealous for war. The former, battling for right, justice, and the perpetuity of free institutions, and conscious of the righteousness of its cause, was firm but mild, patient, and persuasive; the latter, battling for wrong, injustice, and the perpetuation of slavery for the negro, and serfdom for the poor white man, with no warrant for their acts but selfishness, were bitter, vehement, and uncompromising; continually appealing to the passions of the people rather than to their reason and judgment, and by fraud and violence dragging them into the vortex of rebellion, in which their prosperity and happiness were sadly wrecked.

here we will leave the National forces for a while in the waters of North Carolina, preparing for another important victory, which they achieved a month later, and observe the progress of military events westward of the Alleghanies during the later days of autumn, and the winter of 1861-62.

tail-piece — proclamations.