north america-1-第34章
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oint also to Maryland and Baltimore； declaring that secession would be as strong there as at New Orleans； if secession were practicable。 Maryland and Baltimore lie behind Washington； and are under the heels of the Northern troops； so that secession is not practicable； but the South would say that they have seceded in heart。 In this the South would have some show of reason for its assertion； but nevertheless I shall best convey a true idea of the position of these States by classing them as doubtful。 When secession shall have been accomplishedif ever it be accomplished it will hardly be possible that they should adhere to the South。 It will be seen by the foregoing tables that the population of the West is nearly equal to that of the North； and that therefore Western power is almost as great as Northern。 It is almost as great already； and as population in the West increases faster than it does in the North； the two will soon be equalized。 They are already sufficiently on a par to enable them to fight on equal terms； and they will be prepared for fightingpolitical fighting； if no otheras soon as they have established their supremacy over a common enemy。 While I am on the subject of population I should explainthough the point is not one which concerns the present argumentthat the numbers given； as they regard the South； include both the whites and the blacks； the free men and the slaves。 The political power of the South is of course in the hands of the white race only； and the total white population should therefore be taken as the number indicating the Southern power。 The political power of the South； however； as contrasted with that of the North； has； since the commencement of the Union； been much increased by the slave population。 The slaves have been taken into account in determining the number of representatives which should be sent to Congress by each State。 That number depends on the population but it was decided in l787 that in counting up the number of representatives to which each State should be held to be entitled； five slaves should represent three white men。 A Southern population； therefore； of five thousand free men and five thousand slaves would claim as many representatives as a Northern population of eight thousand free men； although the voting would be confined to the free population。 This has ever since been the law of the United States。 The Western power is nearly equal to that of the North； and this fact； somewhat exaggerated in terms； is a frequent boast in the mouths of Western men。 〃We ran Fremont for President；〃 they say； 〃and had it not been for Northern men with Southern principles； we should have put him in the White House instead of the traitor Buchanan。 If that had been done there would have been no secession。〃 How things might have gone had Fremont been elected in lieu of Buchanan； I will not pretend to say； but the nature of the argument shows the difference that exists between Northern and Western feeling。 At the time that I was in the West； General Fremont was the great topic of public interest。 Every newspaper was discussing his conduct； his ability as a soldier； his energy； and his fate。 At that time General McClellan was in command at Washington on the Potomac； it being understood that he held his power directly under the President； free from the exercise of control on the part of the veteran General Scott； though at that time General Scott had not actually resigned his position as head of the army。 And General Fremont； who some five years before had been 〃run〃 for President by the Western States； held another command of nearly equal independence in Missouri。 He had been put over General Lyon in the Western command； and directly after this General Lyon had fallen in battle at Springfield； in the first action in which the opposing armies were engaged in the West。 General Fremont at once proceeded to carry matters with a very high hand； On the 30th of August； 1861； he issued a proclamation by which he declared martial law at St。 Louis； the city at which he held his headquarters； and indeed throughout the State of Missouri generally。 In this proclamation he declared his intention of exercising a severity beyond that ever threatened； as I believe； in modern warfare。 He defines the region presumed to be held by his army of occupation； drawing his lines across the State； and then declares 〃that all persons who shall be taken with arms in their hands within those lines shall be tried by court…martial； and if found guilty will be shot。〃 He then goes on to say that he will confiscate all the property of persons in the State who shall have taken up arms against the Union； or shall have taken part with the enemies of the Union； and that he will make free all slaves belonging to such persons。 This proclamation was not approved at Washington； and was modified by the order of the President。 It was understood also that he issued orders for military expenditure which were not recognized at Washington； and men began to understand that the army in the West was gradually assuming that irresponsible military position which； in disturbed countries and in times of civil war； has so frequently resulted in a military dictatorship。 Then there arose a clamor for the removal of General Fremont。 A semi…official account of his proceedings； which had reached Washington from an officer under his command； was made public； and also the correspondence which took place on the subject between the President and General Fremont's wife。 The officer in question was thereupon placed under arrest； but immediately released by orders from Washington。 He then made official complaint of his general； sending forward a list of charges； in which Fremont was accused of rashness； incompetency； want of fidelity of the interests of the government； and disobedience to orders from headquarters。 After awhile the Secretary of War himself proceeded from Washington to the quarters of General Fremont at St。 Louis； and remained there for a day or two making； or pretending to make； inquiry into the matter。 But when he returned he left the General still in command。 During the whole month of October the papers were occupied in declaring in the morning that General Fremont had been recalled from his command； and in the evening that he was to remain。 In the mean time they who befriended his cause； and this included the whole West； were hoping from day to day that he would settle the matter for himself and silence his accusers； by some great military success。 General Price held the command opposed to him； and men said that Fremont would sweep General Price and his army down the valley of the Mississippi into the sea。 But General Price would not be so swept； and it began to appear that a guerrilla warfare would prevail； that General Price； if driven southward； would reappear behind the backs of his pursuers； and that General Fremont would not accomplish all that was expected of him with that rapidity for which his friends had given him credit。 So the newspapers still went on waging the war； and every morning General Fremont was recalled； and every evening they who had recalled him were shown up as having known nothing of the matter。 〃Never mind； he is a pioneer man； and will do a'most anything he puts his hand to；〃 his friends in the West still said。 〃He understands the frontier。〃 Understanding the frontier is a great thing in Western America； across which the vanguard of civilization continues to march on in advance from year to year。 〃And it's he that is bound to sweep slavery from off the face of this continent。 He's the man； and he's about the only man。〃 I am not qualified to write the life of General Fremont； and can at present only make this slight reference to the details of his romantic career。 That it has been full of romance； and that the man himself is endued with a singular energy； and a high； romantic idea of what may be done by power and will； there is no doubt。 Five times he has crossed the Continent of North America from Missouri to Oregon and California； enduring great hardships in the service of advancing civilization and knowledge。 That he has considerable talent； immense energy； and strong self…confidence；
