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260 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

sions and remained in the Union the slave power would in all probability
have continued to rule; the North would have become utterly demoralized;
the hands on the dial-plate of American civilization would have been
reversed, and the slave would have been dragging his hateful chains to-day
wherever the American flag floats to the breeze. Those who may wish to see
to what depths of humility and self-abasement a noble people can be brought
under the sentiment of fear, will find no chapter of history more instructive
than that which treats of the events in official circles in Washington during
the space between the months of November, 1859, and March, 1860.

CHAPTER XI.

SECESSION AND WAR.

Recruiting of the 54th and 55th Colored Regiments — Visit to President Lincoln and
Secretary Stanton — Promised a Commission as Adjutant General to General Thomas — Disappointment.

The cowardly and disgraceful reaction, from a courageous and manly assertion
of right principles, as described in the foregoing pages, continued surprisingly
long after secession and war were commenced. The patience and
forbearance of the loyal people of the North at the time were amazing.
Speaking of this feature of the situation in Corinthian Hall, Rochester. I
said:

"We (the people of the North) are a charitable people, and in the excess
of this feeling we were disposed to put the very best construction upon the
strange behavior of our southern brethren. We hoped that all would yet go
well. We thought that South Carolina might secede; it was entirely like her
to do so. She had talked extravagantly about going out of the Union, and it
was natural that she should do something extravagant and startling if for
nothing else, to make a show of consistency. Georgia too, we thought might
possibly secede. But strangely enough we thought and felt quite sure that
these twin rebellious States would stand alone and unsupported in their
infamy and their impotency; that they would soon tire of their isolation,
repent of their folly and come back to their places in the Union. Traitors
withdrew from the Cabinet, from the House of Representatives, and from
the Senate, and hastened to their several States to 'fire the southern heart.'
and to fan the hot flames of treason at home. Still we doubted if anything
serious would come of it. We treated it as a bubble on the wave — a nine
days' wonder. Calm and thoughtful men ourselves, we relied upon the sober