Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/24

 18 Southern Historical Society Papers.

self-respectful and intelligent bearing, and he soon took him to New York in some subordinate capacity connected with his paper. This was, perhaps, a year or so before the breaking out of the war, but Beers continued to visit New Haven from time to time possibly every Saturday with Mr. Hallock and we learned that he had ex- hibited rather unusual facility, not to say talent, for journalism, and had been rapidly advanced, until he had come to be an assistant to the night editor of Mr. Hallock's great paper. It was probably through his connection with this leading Democratic daily, that he imbibed the views he subsequently held as to the proper construction of the Federal Constitution and the relations between the Federal Government and the States ; views which he followed to their logical conclusion, and in defense of which he ultimately laid down his life.

As the sectional exitement increased and Civil War became more and more imminent, Beers became more and more restless and un- happy, until actual hostilities began with the bombardment of Fort Sumter, when he informed Mr Hallock that it would be impossible for him to continue to discharge his duties upon the paper. I do not re- member how long it was after this that he came up to New Haven to consult my father, I think, with the approval of Mr. Hallock. Mean- while, under the influence of like feelings, I -had left New York, where for some months I had been studying law, and had gone up to New Haven, preparatory to going South.

My father had asked from General Scott passports to Virginia for himself and three sons, and the General had replied, giving the de- sired permit for my father, but refusing it for his boys, and we had thereupon determined to run down the coast in an open boat, which we were preparing for the purpose, being actually at work upon the sails when Beers was announced. He came directly up to the attic, which was our workshop, and, upon learning our purpose, expressed greatest interest and went to work with a sail needle, declaring that he would make the voyage with us. I rather discouraged him, call- ing attention to the fact that he was a Northern man and had a wife and two children to support, mentioning, in this connection, his fine position and prospects, all of which would necessarily be sacri- ficed. He replied that he had some money which he would leave with our mother; trusting her to expend it for his wife and children and to bring them South when she came, adding that God never gave a man a wife and children to stand in the way of the discharge