To Raise Up a Nation by William S. King

Author:William S. King
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781594165627
Publisher: Westholme Publishing

Eleven

His Truth Is Marching On

I wish to say, furthermore, that you had better—all you people of the South—prepare yourselves for a settlement of this question, that must come up for settlement sooner than you are prepared for it. The sooner you are prepared the better. You may dispose of me very easily—I am nearly disposed of now; but this question is still to be settled—this Negro question I mean; the end of that is not yet.

—John Brown, interview, New York Herald

AS VIRGINIA PASSED ITS ORDINANCE OF SECESSION, DELEGATES from its western counties, meeting in Wheeling, created a new state government and drafted a constitution. Under the federal constitution, however, no state could divide itself but by general consent. Acting on the theory that “to the loyal people…belongs the government of the state,” they chose F. H. Pierpont as governor and selected two new senators to Washington, declaring Virginia's secessionist government, sitting in Richmond, illegal and treasonous.

In the eastern districts of Tennessee this scenario was repeated when delegates with strong Union sympathies held a convention denouncing the governor and the state for their military alliance with the Confederacy. Kentucky was likewise of divided sentiment, Unionists still believing that their Senator Crittenden's compromise offered a way out of the crisis, as Governor Magoffin appealed to states on its northern and southern borders for a conference to mediate between the warring national factions. In mid-May the legislature resolved: “This state and the citizens thereof shall take no part in the Civil War now being waged,” proffering a position of neutrality. Thousands of Kentucky citizens, however, were crossing the border to join units being organized for a Confederate army in Tennessee.

Meanwhile after the “Camp Jackson” incident, acting in haste, the governor and legislature in Jefferson City put Missouri on war readiness, appointing Sterling Price, a former governor and Mexican War general, commander of pro-Confederate militia. Returning from consultations in Washington, General Harney arrived in St. Louis the day after Lyon marched out to Lindell Grove. As Harney listened to the pleas of wealthy planters, Frank Blair hastened to Washington to inform Lincoln of the situation in his state, followed by a delegation sent by Harney intent on same. Both sides returned without resolution, but on May 20 Blair received a sealed letter from Lincoln relieving Harney of command and commissioning Lyon a brigadier-general. The next day, ignorant of Lincoln's decision, Harney announced he had concluded a truce with Jackson, whereby the state agreed not to invoke its military act in exchange for recognition of Missouri's neutrality. On May 30 when Harney began moving German regiments out of St. Louis, Blair sent him Lincoln's order removing him from command.

Jackson now called for a conference at the Planter House with the new federal commander in St. Louis, setting the date for June 11. At the appointed hour Jackson appeared with his secretary and Sterling Price, while Blair and Lyon represented the government. As Jackson presented the case for Missouri neutrality, Lyon became livid with anger; he

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