I never heard that the caucus advised the
South 'to accumulate munitions of war,' or 'to organize and
equip an army of one hundred thousand men,' or determined 'to
hold on as long as possible to the Southern seats.' So far from
it, a majority of Southern Senators seemed to think there would
be no war; that the dominant party in the North desired
separation from the South, and would gladly let their 'erring
sisters go in peace.' I could multiply proofs of such a
disposition. As to holding on to their seats, no Southern
Legislature advised it, no Southern Senator who favored
secession did so but one, and none others wished to do so, I
believe.
"The 'plan of secession,' if any, and the purpose of secession,
unquestionably, originated, not in Washington City, or with the
Senators or Representatives of the South, but among the people
of the several States, many months before it was attempted. They
followed no leaders at Washington or elsewhere, but acted for
themselves, with an independence and unanimity unprecedented in
any movement of such magnitude. Before the meeting of the caucus
of January 5, 1861, South Carolina had seceded, and Alabama,
Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas had taken the initial
step of secession, by calling conventions for its
accomplishment. Before the election of Lincoln, all the Southern
States, excepting one or two, had pledged themselves to separate
from the Union upon the triumph of a sectional party in the
Presidential election, by acts or resolutions of their
Legislatures, resolves of both Democratic and Whig State
Conventions, and of primary assemblies of the people--in every
way in which they could commit themselves to any future act.
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