FEDERAL  MILITARY  SOCIETY.                        5
Between the two is a mixed party, preferring above
every thing else, the enjoyment of the benefits of the
Union, and making, for this object, concessions on
both hands.
' At the last Presidential election, there were four
candidates in the field ; the ballot was very full and
regular ; Mr. Lincoln, the candidate of the Republi-
can party, was elected. The Southern States then
carried into actual effect the threat which they had
long made ; and with South Carolina at the head, de-
clared for a separation from the Union. They seized
its arsenals, its forts, its custom-houses, its posts;
blockaded its garrisons ; and finally bombarded the
Federal garrison of Fort Sumter, the first act of hos-
tility of the actual campaign.
It became necessary for the Union also to take arms,
to re-establish the authority of the Constitution and
the laws. Unfortunately, if the Union is well organ-
ized to cause the arts of peace to flourish, it has the
worst possible adaptation for the direction of war.
There is wanting to it the very first instrument of a
government, an army. It lacks, besides, unity of com-
mand and strength of government. There is a super-
abundance of criticism, and of political wheel-work,
which complicate the progress of military affairs. It
is nothing surprising that the first demonstrations of the
North had been marked by reverses ; and had ended
in the defeat of Bull Run, on the 21st of July, 1861.
But the North persisted ; gave a better organization