ory
of the world based upon this great physical and moral truth. This
truth has been slow in the process of its development, like all
the other truths in the various departments of science. It has
been so even amongst us. Many who hear me, perhaps, can recollect
well that this truth was not generally admitted, even within their
day. The errors of the past generation still clung to many as late
as twenty years ago. Those at the North who still cling to these
errors, with a zeal above knowledge, we justly denominate fanatics."

This is a fair and truthful exposition of the fundamental principles
of the Confederacy, fallacious as they were.

North Carolina, after her people had voted down a convention to
consider the question of secession at an extra session of her
Legislature, called a convention which, on May 21, 1861, when the
war had begun, passed an Ordinance of Secession without submission
to a vote of her people.

Virginia through her Legislature called a convention which, April
17, 1861, passed an Ordinance of Secession in secret session,
subject to ratification by a vote of her people. This was after
Sumter had been fired on.

The vote was taken June 25th, and the Ordinance was ratified.

Arkansas defeated in convention an Ordinance for secession March
18, but passed one May 6, 1861, without a vote of her people.

Tennessee, by a vote of her people, February 8, 1861 (67,360 to
54,156) voted against a convention, but her Legislature (May 7,
1861) in secret session adopted a "Declaration of Independence and
Ordinance dissolving her Federal relations," subject to a vote of
her people on June 8th. The vote being for separation, her Governor,
June 24, 1861, declared the State out of the Union.(110)

This was the last State of the eleven to secede. All these four
ratified the Confederate Constitution and joined the already-formed
Confederacy.

The seceded States early passed laws authorizing the organization
of their militia, and making appropriations for defence against
coercion, and providing for the seizure of United States forts,
arsenals, and other property within their respective limits, and
later, that they should be turned over to the Confederate States.

Some of the States by law provided severe penalties against any of
their citizens holding office under the Government of the United
States. Virginia, in July, 1861, in convention, passed an ordinance
declaring that any citizen of Virginia h