Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/46



HE United States Congress met on December 5, 1859, three days after the execution of John Brown. The most intense excitement prevailed throughout the Union, inflamed by Brown's execution and the events that preceded it. The House of Representatives did not succeed in electing a speaker until February 1, 1860, having spent two months in wrangling over the questions of slavery, State rights and secession. A Republican, Pennington of New Jersey, was elected speaker. On December 1st, the general assembly of Virginia met in regular session, and at the suggestion of Governor Wise proceeded to reorganize the militia of the State, to provide for volunteer military companies, the collection of munitions of war, and in general for putting the State in a condition of defense. The people, although almost unanimously in favor of the Union, seconded the action of the legislature by encouraging home manufactures of every kind and advocating non-intercourse with the North because of its attitude on the vital questions of the day. On the 16th of December, others of Brown's conspirators were hanged at Charlestown, which was still guarded by a number of volunteer military companies assembled by Governor Wise. This again attracted attention to Virginia, and added to the political excitement which had been somewhat quieted after the execution of Brown.

On January 1, 1860, John Letcher, who had been elected, as a decidedly Union man, on May 26, 1859, was inaugurated governor of Virginia. He sent a strong message to the general assembly, recommending the adoption of resolutions for calling a convention of the States of the