nd the receipt of the official notification
which enabled me to withdraw from the Senate, rumors were in circulation
of a purpose, on the part of the United States Government, to arrest
members of Congress preparing to leave Washington on account of the
secession of the States which they represented. This threat received
little attention from those most concerned. Indeed, it was thought that
it might not be an undesirable mode of testing the question of the right
of a State to withdraw from the Union.

No attempt, however, was made to arrest any of the retiring members;
and, after a delay of a few days in necessary preparations, I left
Washington for Mississippi, passing through southwestern Virginia, East
Tennessee, a small part of Georgia, and north Alabama. A deep interest
in the events which had recently occurred was exhibited by the people of
these States, and much anxiety was indicated as to the future. Many
years of agitation had made them familiar with the idea of separation.
Nearly two generations had risen to manhood since it had begun to be
discussed as a possible alternative. Few, very few, of the Southern
people had ever regarded it as a desirable event, or otherwise than as a
last resort for escape from evils more intolerable. It was a calamity,
which, however threatened, they had still hoped might be averted, or
indefinitely postponed, and they had regarded with contempt, rather than
anger, the ravings of a party in the North, which denounced the
Constitution and the Union, and persistently defamed their brethren of
the South.

Now, however, as well in Virginia and Tennessee, neither of which had
yet seceded, as in the more Southern States, which had already taken
that step, the danger so often prophesied was perceived to be at the
door, and eager inquiries were made as to what would happen
next--especially as to the probability of war between the States.

The course which events were likely to take was shrouded in the greatest
uncertainty. In the minds of many there was the not unreasonable hope
(which had been expressed by the Commissioner sent from Mississippi to
Maryland) that the secession of six Southern States--certainly soon to
be followed by that of others--would so arouse the sober thought and
better feeling of the Northern people as to compel their representatives
to agree to a Convention of the States, and that such guarantees would
be given as would secure to the South the domestic tranquil