Transcript (excerpt):

Page 2, Lower Half

Interesting From Virginia.

Our Richmond Correspondence.

Richmond, Va., April 6, 1861.

The Present Attitude of Virginia – How Long is She to Remain in the Union? – The Union Men in the Convention Endeavoring to Escape from the Rising Tide of Revolution, &c., &c.

The cord which binds Virginia to the Union at this moment is so slight as to need but the pressure of any little emergency to snap it forever. It is fast yielding under the natural strain of Southern interest and Southern sympathy; and any sudden emergency which would abruptly rend it would but anticipate by a few months a result that is not inevitable.

Citation:New York Herald. 10 April 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .N56792

Transcript (excerpt):

The Charleston Mercury, Charleston, S.C., Saturday, March 23, 1861.

Page 1, Upper Half

Direct Trade.

The New York Times has an elaborate article on the subject of direct trade between the ports of the Confederate States and those of Europe. It is of opinion that this government cannot initiate direct trade with such ports. It enters into argument, and thinks it demonstrates the fact. The article is too long for insertion, and indeed is only worth of notice, because it conveniently enables us to remove some of the old cobwebs that hang still about the brains of such ignorant people. A few extracts, however, we give so as to follow a train of ideas expressed. It will be perceived that they are but a part and parcel of the same old thing – “the people of the South are a set of poor devils and paupers, entirely dependent on the great, intelligent, wealthy North.” Well! it makes little difference now what their arrogance and ignorance may induce them to believe. A very brief time, measured now almost by days, will impart to them such instruction as will not be obliterated by the tide of a century to come. But to the argument.

The Times assumes that the Northern manufactories cannot be competed with by the European manufactories in supplying the South; that “nineteenths” of the articles consumed at the South must still be supplied by the North.

If this be fact, the conclusion at once presents itself, what a stupendous fraud and system of robbery the North has habitually practiced, and still would practice, upon the South by the enormous protection of Northern manufactures through protective Tariffs! Even Webster only claimed protection as a necessity for the continuance of their manufactures.

Citation: Charleston Mercury. Charleston, S.C., 23 March 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .C477

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Mr. Lincoln’s Views of the Crisis.

The Union – It Must Be Preserved.

From the Springfield (Ill.) Journal of Dec. 20 (Mr. Lincoln’s Organ)

There are not a few who seem to think that the Union will be dissolved whenever the South Carolina Secession Convention passes a resolution to that effect. The Union cannot be dissolved by the passage of resolutions. South Carolina may resolve that she is no longer a part of this Union. She may hold Secession meetings, mount Disunion cockades, plant palmetto trees, make palmetto flags. Trample under foot the glorious flag of our country and proclaim from the housetops her treason and her shame, but all this will not dissolves the Union. She may compel her citizens to resign official place held under the federal government, she may close her courts and post offices, and put her own people to a great deal of inconvenience and trouble, but she will still be in the Union, unmolested. She cannot get out of the Union until she conquers this Government.

Citation: New York Weekly Tribune. New York, 29 December 1860. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab.

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By Telegraph for the Baltimore Sun.

South Carolina Sovereign Convention.

Signing of the Secession Ordinance – Address to the Southern States – Secret Session of the Convention – Reports of Committees – Commissioners Elected to go to Washington – Grand Torchlight Procession and Illumination in Charleston – Rejoicing in Other Southern States, etc.

Charleston, Dec. 20^th – The members of the convention assembled at Institute Hall at half-past 6 o’clock this evening and proceeded to sign this ordinance of secession, which was beautifully engrossed on parchment. The president signed first and was followed by all the members.
Citation: The Sun. Baltimore, 22 December 1860. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .S955

Transcript [excerpt, p1]:

The Ordinance of Secession

Mr. Inglis made a report to the committee to prepare and draft an ordinance proper to be adopted by the convention as follows:

“An Ordinance to dissolve the Union between the State of South Carolina and other States united with her under the compact entitled the Constitution of the United States of America.

“We the people of South Carolina convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained that the ordinance adopted by us in convention on the 23rd day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, whereby the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified, and also all acts and parts of acts of the General Assembly of this State ratifying the amendments of the said Constitution are hereby repealed.

“And that the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the United States of America, is hereby dissolved.”

The ordinance having been read was taken up and passed by a unanimous vote of one hundred and sixty-nine members.
Citation:The Sun. Baltimore, 21 December 1860. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .S955

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(p1 top center column)

Fashion in New York.

Our New York Correspondence

New York, November 5, 1860

Should any incoherencies or discrepancies be apparent in the bulletin of La Mode for this month, please credit it all to the important fact that I am writing upon the eve of election day, to which my own restlessness gives double zest.

I am fully aware that to be a woman, especially a young one – that is, one who has yet to discover a wrinkle, fading roses, and a gray hair – is to be a little feminine animal, just “conscious of pearls and purple,” chicken and cream, Tennyson and Bulwer, until resigned to Point lace, orange blossoms, a complete trousseau, and a husband.

I own to transgressing the law, to breaking through the conventialities that hedge in woman, to positively forget Fashion, in the rage for Politics.

Pray don’t accuse me of a desire to vote, or of being in the faintest degree an advocate of woman’s rights, or anything of that sort. Heaven forefend! But I say it, and I say it boldly, that a woman is not worth a sous if she has not influence and fascination enough to control votes, minister to minds diseased, and cleanse the brains and masculine hearts of that foul black dye threatening us like a pestilence. Thus is happens that your correspondent has been excessively busy during the last month, making converts, sacrificing friendships, wondering how Charlotte Corday felt once upon a time, and, in fact being accused of downright haughtiness. N’importe, Messieurs of the South – born among you, I am yours heart and soul.

Being a dear lover of the dolce far niente, I cannot but feel all this turbulence and warfare excessively annoying, while dreamily pondering over the curse of Kehama, especially the line:

“Days after days, unvarying come and go.”

utterly beyond my comprehension, at present, but for the realization of which I would be glad to yield my very last new love of a bonnet.
Citation: Charleston Mercury, 9 November 1860. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .C477