their slaves or not as they pleased; but to insist on imposing the "Abolitionist" point of view upon Southern slaveholders was, in the eyes of the South, an injustice to which they would not lightly submit. CHAPTER X CROSSING THE RUBICON THERE were many problems confronting the United States in the year 1860, but the problem of slavery bore more and more heavily upon the minds and hearts of the people. In former days slavery had existed in the Northern states of the Union, but had long ceased to exist there; men and women increasingly felt the injustice of it, and opposed it in various ways. This growing opposition to human servitude, and the determination to abolish it, were quickened by "John Brown's Raid," and especially by Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." That powerful book, which set forth, vividly, certain of the evils of slavery in the South, had been published in the National Era, at Washington, in the winter of 185152, and later was issued in book form. In addition to these causes, many incidents occurred, pathetic and tragic, as slaves escaped from their masters and made their way North to freedom. The question of returning them to their masters caused much friction; and the civil laws were sometimes broken in the name of what was believed to be the higher law of humanity. The South continually complained that the North interfered with its interests; and as time went on the slave states became more and more vigorous in their protest against the North's interference. Thus the question of a state's right to secede, to separate itself from the Union, came rapidly to the front. North and South continued to grow apart. Denunciations of slavery increased in the North, particularly in New England, while a denunciation, equally fervent, of a government which insisted on "national sovereignty" raged in the South. The tense situation now existing was plainly indicated in Congress, where senators and representatives drew more and more into two groups, a pro-slavery and an Abolition group. Newspapers of the two sections added fuel to the flame; and nowhere in the country was there more excitement than in Charleston, South Carolina. It was in that city on April 12th, 1861, that the first open attack upon the Union was made. Several states had already passed votes of secession in their legislatures, when Fort Sumter, a fort in Charleston Harbor, flying the Stars and Stripes, was fired upon by a Confederate battery at Fort Johnson. Immediately North and South realized that this mighty problem of slavery was now to be settled by fire and sword, carnage on the battlefield, and anguish in stricken homes. Lee had feared such a bloody solution of this great question; he was now brought face to face with his own personal problem. What was he to do? On one side was his pledged word of support to the Federal government; on the other came the call of his beloved state, Virginia, "The Old Dominion." No questions of personal and family loss or gain entered for a moment into Lee's thoughts as he debated the matter with himself. As for the issue of slavery, Lee believed in slavery under favorable conditions; indeed, we can well see that it was from the most profound and sincere convictions that Robert E. Lee finally decided to cast in his lot with his native state. On Friday, April 12th, 1861, Fort Sumter was fired upon; President Lincoln at once called for seventy-five thousand soldiers; and this demand was promptly supported by the governors of the Northern states; but several of the Southern states refused support, and, on April 17th, the "Ordinance of Secession" was passed by Virginia. This situation brought Colonel Lee face to face with the most momentous decision of his life. Not only were his own fortunes and the welfare of his family involved, but, to a man of his high integrity, his anxiety to stand justified by his own conscience and in the sight of God, this must have weighed upon him mightily. -- In addition, we may attribute to his intelligent mind this further oppressive consideration, — that he must have realized, humbly yet clearly, that his decision for or against the Southern states meant life or death to thousands of brave men, and thus it resulted. All this Lee weighed, doubtless, in the solemn deliberations of his noble soul. Never a vain man, nor a lightly self-sufficient man, Robert E. Lee was always open to reasonable suggestions; and he held a conversation with Francis P. Blair, wherein he was offered practically the command of the United States Army. This offer was probably made with the approval of President Lincoln and Simon Cameron, Secretary of War. Lee's reply to Blair's offer was, Although opposed to secession, and deprecating war, I cannot take part in an invasion of the Southern states." From this interview, Colonel Lee went to his beloved commander and loyal friend, General |