Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/392

354 for an equitable adjustment, but will insist on her rights at all hazards; and to do this the legislature on the 24th, called a convention. In Arkansas the general sentiment favored the call of a convention, which the legislature on January 16th unanimously ordered. The Union feeling in East Tennessee was strong enough to hold the secession movement under restraint until the invasion of the South was proclaimed by Mr. Lincoln. Texas assembled in convention on the 28th of January, and a few days afterward passed its ordinance of secession. Strong efforts were made in Maryland to induce the governor to call the legislature together, but he was opposed to secession, and refused to issue the proclamation. The other States of the South, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana, had already seceded.

The Peace Conference, composed of twenty-one separate States, met at Washington simultaneously with the assembling of delegates of the seceded States in Montgomery, February 4th, 1861. The seceding States were of course not represented. But the remaining seven States of the South, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri, had their ablest men present as commissioners. The six New England States had sent such statesmen as Fessenden, Morrill, Crittenden, Boutwell, Tuck, Ames, Baldwin; New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania from the middle Atlantic seaboard had their embassadors, while Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas stood for the West. Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, California and Oregon sent no delegates.

The venerable John Tyler, ex-President of the United States, was chosen president and made a strong, patriotic address, containing the pertinent remark, &quot; Your patriotism will surmount the difficulties, however great, if you will accomplish but one triumph in advance, and that is a triumph over party. And what is party when com-