ence, the experiment of dissolution of the Union to save slavery
was due, if ever, to be tried in _1861!_

Secession was made easier by reason of a long cherished habit of
the Southern people to speak of themselves boastfully as citizens
of their respective States, thus, "I am a Virginian"; "I am a
Kentuckian," seemingly oblivious to the fact that they were citizens
of the United States. This habit destroyed in some degree national
patriotism, and promoted a State pride, baleful in its consequences.
In many of the slave State voting was done _viva voce;_ that is,
by the voter announcing at the polls to the judges the name of the
person for whom he voted for each office. This, it was contended,
promoted frankness, manliness, independence, and honesty in elections.
On the other hand, it was claimed, with much truth, that it was a
most refined and certain method of coercing the dependent poorer
classes into voting as the dominant class might desire, and hence
almost totally destructive of independence in voting.

An anecdote is told of John Randolph of Roanoke, who, when at the
Court of St. James (England) was conspicuous for his boasting that
he was a _Virginian_. He was introduced by an English official
for an after-dinner speech with a request that he should tell the
distinguishing difference between a _Virginian_ and a citizen of
the American Republic. He curtly responded:

"The difference is in the system of voting on election days; in
Virginia a voter must stand up, look the candidates in the eye,
and bravely and honestly name his preference, like a man; while
generally a voter in other States of the Union is permitted to
sneak to the polls like a thief, and slip a folded paper into a
hole in a box, then in a cowardly way steal home; the one promotes
manliness, the other cowardice."

XXIII
SECESSION OF STATES--1860-1

From what has been said, it will be seen the hour had arrived for
practical secession--disunion--or a total abandonment by the South
of its defiant position on slavery. The latter was not to be
expected of the proud race of Southern statesmen and slaveholders.
They had pushed their cause too far to recede, and the North, though
conceding generally that there was no constitutional power to
interfere with slavery where it existed, was equally determined
not to permit its extension. In secession lay the only hope of
either forcing the North to recede from its position, or, if
successful, to