Volume 2 / Part 4 — CHAPTER XV.
Reading edition
Review of 1861.—Summary of Hostile Acts of United States Government.—Fuller Details of some of them.—Third Session of Provisional Congress.—Message.—Subjugation of the Southern States intended.—Obstinacy of the Enemy.—Insensibility of the North as to the Crisis.—Vast Preparation of the Enemy.—Embargo and Blockade.—Indiscriminate War waged.—Action of Confederate Congress.—Confiscation Act of United States Congress.—Declared Object of the War.—Powers of United States Government.— Forfeitures inflicted.—Due Process of Law, how interpreted.—"Who pleads the Constitution?"—Wanton Destruction of Private Property unlawful—Adams on Terms of the Treaty of Ghent.—Sectional Hatred.—Order of President Lincoln to Army Officers in Regard to Slaves.—"Educating the People."—Fremont's Proclamation.— Proclamation of General T. W. Sherman.—Proclamation of General Halleck and others.—Letters of Marque.—Our Privateers.—Officers tried for Piracy.—Retaliatory Orders.—Discussion in the British House of Lords.—Recognition as a Belligerent of the Confederacy.— Exchange of Prisoners.—Theory of the United States.—Views of McClellan.—Revolutionary Conduct of United States Government.— Extent of the War at the Close of 1861.—Victories of the Year.— New Branches of Manufactures.—Election of Confederate States President.—Posterity may ask the Cause of such Hostile Actions.— Answer.