DEDICATION. TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATORS COMPOSING THE THIRTY-SEVENTH AND THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. GENTLEMEN: To you, in commemoration of many friendships which will be ever cherished, of an association which will ever be held in grateful recollection, and as an expression of my high appreciation of the patriotism, constancy, love of liberty, wisdom, and statesmanship, which, by your legislation and influence, contributed so largely to redeem and save the Republic, I desire respectfully to dedicate this work. It was your privilege to occupy a responsible position at the most critical period of our history. Under the lead of the Great Martyr whose work, with yours, I have on these pages attempted to record, you have rendered great service to our country. Those vast armies, whose victorious campaigns extended over half a continent; that great navy, which has made the United States "Mistress" at least of the Western "Seas;" that system of finance which has carried us, unaided by foreign loans, through the late stupendous war, were all created and sustained by your laws. Noell, of Missouri; and to these must be added the names of Owen Lovejoy, the pioneer Abolitionist of Illinois, and the venerable John J. Crittenden; and who of us, that so often hung with delight upon his fervid eloquence, can ever forget the scholar, and genius of the House, Henry Winter Davis? The work of crushing the rebellion and overthrowing slavery was consummated, with your assistance, by ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Had he lived, the work of reconstruction and reconciliation might now have been in good part accomplished. He knew so well how to temper justice with mercy, "with malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gave him to see the right, he would have bound up the Nation's wounds," and achieved and cherished "a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." He fell a martyr to liberty, and his death has thrown heavier, graver responsibilities upon the American Congress. Yet when I see so many of the old leaders of the Senate and the House still at their posts, still enjoying the well earned confidence of the American people, I cannot doubt, but that which Lincoln began, they will consummate. With prayers for your complete success, I subscribe myself, Very Respectfully Yours, ISAAC N. ARNOLD. CONTENTS. PAGE. SLAVERY FROM 1788 TO THE COMPROMISE MEASURES OF 1850. Opinions of the Fathers upon Slavery-Ordinance of 1787-Early Abolition Societies-Slavery Abolished in the New England States, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey-Cotton and Slavery-Location of Capital at Washington-Fugitive Slave Law of 1793-Admission of Tennessee, Alabama and Missis- sippi, as Slave States-Purchase of Louisiana and Florida-Mis- souri Compromise-Seminole War-Annexation of Texas- Mexican War-Wilmot Proviso-California-Anti-Slavery Con- vention-Suppression of Right of Petition-John Quincy The Thirty-third Congress-Douglas Introduces the Kansas-Ne- braska Bill-Debate upon it in the Senate-Douglas-Chase- Seward-Sumner-Toombs-Mason-Hunter-Slidell-Houston -Passage of the Bill-Struggle over its Passage in the House of Representatives-Benton-Richardson-Campbell—Wash- burne-Stephens of Georgia-Passage of the Bill through the |