turbance. But before the state troops could reach Harper's Ferry, a number of Brown's gang had been killed and the rest captured by Colonel Robert E. Lee1 and a body

1 Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), born at Stratford, Westmoreland County, Va., descended from a long line of illustrious ancestors. He was educated at West Point; and, while there, he was never reprimanded, and never received a demerit. After his graduation, he served in the Mexican War, and rose to distinction. When Virginia seceded, Lee at once resigned his commission in the United States army and offered his services to his native state. His masterly defence of Richmond won for him a wide reputation as one of the ablest military commanders of modern times. When the Civil War ended, he was elected president of Washington College. After his death, in honor of him, the name of the college was changed to Washington and Lee University. Lee was a strikingly handsome man and a graceful rider. His noble qualities and the great purity of his life made him an inspiration to his followers. In his own life, he certainly exemplified his belief in the maxim he himself uttered that "Duty is the sublimest word in the English language."

of United States marines, who had been dispatched to the scene of action. Several citizens and one negro were killed by Brown's party before the termination of the affair. Brown was among those captured, and he with six of his followers were tried and hung for treason, insurrection, and murder.

Report of the Senate Committee. A committee of the United States Senate looked into the matter, and made a report in which it was stated that Brown's attack upon Virginia "was simply the act of lawless ruffians, under the sanction of no public or political authority, distinguishable only from ordinary felonies by the ulterior ends in contemplation by them, and by the fact that the money to maintain the expedition and the large armament they brought with them had been contributed and furnished by the citizens of other states of the Union under circumstances that must continue to jeopard the safety and peace of the Southern states, and against which Congress has no power to legislate."

Political Significance of Brown's Attack. Brown brought with him to Harper's Ferry a number of muskets, pistols, and about fifteen hundred pikes which were made expressly for him in Connecticut, and which he thought would be effective weapons in the hands of the negroes. An investigation of the insurrection showed that Brown had the sympathy and the help of a number of persons at the North in this plot to raise a servile war. This fact convinced Virginia that the Constitution and the laws of the Union were not sufficient to protect her, and it hastened the breaking out of the Civil War.

QUESTIONS

1. Why did England encourage the traffic in negroes? 2. What did Virginia do to prevent its growth?

3. What was New England's connection with slavery?

4. Why was it encouraged both by the New England and cotton states?

5. What change of feeling in regard to slavery had taken place in the North?

6. Give an account of Gabriel's Insurrection.

7. Of Nat Turner's Insurrection.

8. What was the sentiment in Virginia in later times?

9.

What is said of fugitive slaves?

10. Who was John Brown, and what is said of his raid?

II. By whom was he captured?

12. Give the leading facts in the life of Robert E. Lee.

13. What was Brown's fate?

14. Give the report of the Senate Committee on this raid.

15. What weapons did John Brown bring, who were they for, and

where made?

16. What did an investigation show?

REVIEW QUESTIONS

I. Describe the battles of King's Mountain and Cowpens.

2. Give an account of the maneuvers of Cornwallis and Lafayette. 3. How was Cornwallis entrapped?

4. Describe the siege of Yorktown and Cornwallis's surrender. 5. Who was Governor Nelson, and what is said of his patriotism? 6. Give an account of the exploits of George Rogers Clark, by which Virginia recovered her Northwest Territory.

7. What generous spirit did Virginia show in order to bring about a union of the states?

8. Why was the present Constitution formed to take the place of the Articles of Confederation?

9. Describe the Alien and Sedition Laws, and tell of the resolutions

adopted by Virginia in regard to them.

10. Why is Virginia called the "Mother of States and of Statesmen "? II. Describe the burning of Richmond theater.

12. What was the cause of the War of 1812?

VIRG. HIST. — 12

13. What important services did Virginians render the Union? 14. What was Virginia's attitude toward slavery?

15. Give New England's connection with slavery, and tell about the change of feeling at the North in regard to it.

16. What is said of fugitive slaves?

17. Give an account of John Brown's Raid, his capture and execution. 18. What was the report of the Senate Committee, and the political significance of this raid?

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS (1763-1860)

1765. Stamp Act passed by Parliament.

1766. Stamp Act repealed.

1767. A tax imposed on tea and other articles.

1769. Famous Virginia resolves passed by the House of Burgesses.

1770. All duties except on tea repealed.

1773. The tea thrown overboard at Boston Harbor.

1774. The first Continental Congress met at Philadelphia, September 5. 1775. Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19.

1775. End of royal government in Virginia.

1775. Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17.

1776. Declaration of Independence signed, July 4.

1777. Burgoyne's surrender, October 17.

1778. American independence acknowledged by France.

1779. Clark's conquest of the Northwest Territory.

1780. Battle of King's Mountain, October 7.

1781. Richmond captured by Arnold.

1781. Battle of Cowpens, January 17.

1781. Surrender of Cornwallis, October 19.

1787. Constitution of the United States adopted in convention, Sep

tember 17.

1788. Virginia ratifies the Constitution.

1789. Washington inaugurated, April 30.

1799. Washington died at Mt. Vernon, December 14.

1803. Louisiana purchased from France, April 30.

1811. Richmond theater burned, December 26.

1812. War declared against England.

1846. Mexican War.

1859. John Brown's Raid, October 16.

THIRD PERIOD

FROM THE CIVIL WAR

TO THE PRESENT TIME

CHAPTER XXII.

APPROACH OF THE CIVIL WAR

The Constitution Ambiguous. - The Constitution of the United States was the result of a series of compromises; and at the time of its adoption, was not entirely satisfactory to any one. No sooner had it been ratified by the states than the people became divided into two parties, one holding that the language of the Constitution should be construed strictly so that the sovereignty of the states would never be impaired, the other claiming that the powers of the Federal government ought to be enlarged, and that the Constitution should be interpreted so as to allow this to be done. Out of these antagonistic views there grew, as time passed, two opposing theories of the nature of the Union. These must now be stated in order to make clear the cause of the secession movement, which involved Virginia and all the other states in a long and bloody war.

The State-Rights Theory. On this theory the Union which the states created was one of limited powers, all powers not named in the Constitution as specially surrendered to the Federal government being reserved by the