The American Rebellion, in 1861, was the consummation of a long and increasing determination to resist grievances, which the Southern States unreasonably claimed to have received for a series of years at the hands of the Northern States. Imaginary wrongs of the past—unpromising shadows of the future—the decay of political power—the "Irrepressible Conflict" in force—the dreadful handwriting on the wall, foretelling the doom of human slavery—the pronounced hostility of the press—the continuous and earnest denouncement of it from the pulpit—the increasing sentiment of the northern masses against it—the enactment of laws by Congress circumscribing its limits, together with the election of a President, the choice of a party professing open hostility to its extension, and foreshadowing the accomplishment of its utter abolition, led to a declaration of secession from the Union of most of the States in which slavery existed, and the repudiation of the National Government and its laws— the setting up of a revolutionary government and the armament of a force to maintain it—the inauguration of hostilities by the perpetration of acts of war on National forts and ships,—the vile desecration of the Flag, and the onset of a vicious and vindictive rebellion in force. The sudden uprising in rebellion in so formidable proportions unfortunately found all departments of the National Government, as well as States, unprepared for its fearful emergencies, and as they were unanticipated they were unprovided for.